Maldives Police Service, on Sunday, arrested a 39-year-old man in Fuvahmulah sexually abusing a 15-year-old child under the guise of 'marriage'.
The man, reportedly a follower of extremist ideologies, was arrested at approximately 1450 hrs under a court order and holds previous records of sexually abusing young girls below the age of 18.
Furthermore, the child's mother, a 35-year-old woman, was arrested at around 1602 hrs on charges of neglecting her daughter.
Police are further investigating the matter.
The Maldivian constitution does not allow children under 18 to be married, and consummating an unlawful "marriage" to an underage child constitutes statutory rape.