Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) spokesperson Ibrahim Azim confirmed on Thursday the arrest of an officer on allegations of rape and blackmail of a 14-year-old child.
Chief Inspector of Police Izmia Zahir also revealed that a 36-year-old man was apprehended under the same allegations. However, she did not state whether the individual was an MNDF officer or not.
Addu Meedhoo MP Rozaina recently expressed concern that relevant authorities had failed to investigate or take action concerning a case against two MNDF officers over the rape a 15-year-old girl.
Rozaina raised these concerns on January 17 at an emergency meeting of the Parliament Committee for Human Rights and Gender, prompted by the sexual violence case against a two-year old toddler in Kanduhulhudhoo, Gaafu Alif Atoll.
However at the time, MNDF denounced MP Rozaina's allegations about the involvement of its officers in the child rape, contending that authorities have not brought such an incident to their attention.
It is unknown whether the case highlighted by MP Rozaina is connected to the aforementioned case.