Maldives Police Service arrested a 61-year-old man over sexually assaulting a minor on Wednesday.
Police disclosed that the victim was a female under the age of 18 and that the crime was reported earlier the same day in the South Central Police Division, which comprises the atolls of Thaa and Laamu.
Police stated that they were conducting further investigations.
They did not disclose further information on the victim or island where the crime occurred in order to protect the identity of the minor. Police reiterated that all cases involving children are investigated with utmost seriousness.
A significant number of child sexual abuse cases were reported to the authorities since mid-January, following the shocking case of a two-year-old toddler in a southern island. Police have made numerous arrests till date and stated that the investigations were underway.