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PG Office raises charges against six over abusing children at Kudakudhinge Hiyaa

Mariyam Malsa
13 December 2020, MVT 18:05
'Kudakudhinge Hiyaa' orphanage in K.Villimale. PHOTO/KUDAKUDHINGE HIYAA
Mariyam Malsa
13 December 2020, MVT 18:05

The Prosecutor General's Office, on Sunday, revealed that criminal charges were raised against six individuals for physically and psychologically abusing children at 'Kudakudhinge Hiyaa' orphanage in 2017 and 2018.

Noting that the case pertaining to the aforementioned orphanage staff members was forwarded to the Criminal Court, the PG Office stated that the investigation concerning the remaining individuals implicated in the matter is currently underway.

Implicated individuals and charges

- Mohamed Shareef: charges of physical contact

- Hussain Ahmed: Obstruction of justice and interference with other state functions

- Ali Ahsan: two charges of obstruction of justice and interference with state functions and one charge of physical contact

- Najeeh Ahmed: two charges of obstruction of justice and interference with state functions and two charges of physical contact

- Ahmed Vanoodh: two charges of obstruction of justice and interference with state functions and six charges of physical contact

- Hussain Hamdhoon: charges of making threats and physical contact

Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem will personally present the prosecution at the trial for the case, along with a team.

The Presidential Commission to Inquire into Child Rights Violations previously stated that the matter, involving a total of 11 suspects, was initially reported to Maldives Police Service in July 2018.

Additionally, the commission disclosed that the Prosecutor General's Office had issued an order on October 11, 2020, to expedite the investigation and other processes which must be completed before officially pressing charges.

As per the presidential commission, a team consisting of representatives from the police and the PG Office was formed to independently investigate the Kudakudhinge Hiya case. Statements were collected from a total of 24 individuals and five children in connection to the case.

Parliament's Committee on Human Rights and Gender also initiated an injuiry into the abuse case.

Efforts to charge the aforementioned individuals come amidst multiple reports of child sexual abuse, grooming and rape this year, with public outrage soaring over the government's meagre record of arresting and convicting perpetrators of sexual offences despite several promises to support the rights of children and women.

Meanwhile, Maldives Police Service continue to urge the public to report all such cases to the police's Family and Child Protection Wing at +960 3000600 or the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services at 1412.

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