The Prosecutor General's Office, on Thursday, revealed that charges of sexual assault were not pressed against prominent local actor Jumayyil Nimal as a result of insufficient evidence.
Maldives Police Service reportedly forwarded the case, which involved the sexual abuse of a minor, to the PG Office.
Speaking to local media outlet Mihaaru, an official from the PG Office revealed that the decision to forgo sending the actor's case to the Criminal Court was currently under review.
He disclosed that the PG Office's earlier decision not to press charges was based on the absence of evidence except the victim's testimony.
"The remaining details are recorded on the case logs. These need to be manually checked".
According to the official, the PG Office would change their decision on the matter if their ongoing inquiry uncovered suspicions of misconduct and indications that the case against Jumayyil could be proven in court.
Jumayyil has declined to comment on the allegations of child sexual abuse to local media.
Allegations against Jumayyil resurfaced after the victim publicly shared a detailed account of the abuse she faced at the hands of the actor in December 2016. The victim, aged 17 at the time of the abuse, is a relative of Jumayyil.
Notably, the victim alleged that the case was swept "under the rug" through connections to influential people.
The aforementioned allegations resurfaced amid expressions of public discontent over alleged political influence concerning the sexual assault of a 27-year-old woman aboard a safari docked at Hulhumale' lagoon.
Although two men aged 39 were arrested at the scene, the police later released them, claiming that detaining them until the investigation concluded would be unnecessary based on the information collected.
Authorities have yet to release any information concerning the suspects, citing the ongoing status of the investigation.
Public ire continues to soar over the incumbent administration's meagre record of arresting and convicting perpetrators of sexual offences despite several promises to uphold the rights of children and women.
On Monday, over 150 protesters gathered near the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services, urging the government to expedite cases, apprehend rapists and disclose the identity of perpetrators that were influencing the authorities.
Later the same week, protesters demanded justice for sexual assault victims in the first recorded instance of a protest being carried out within the premises of the Parliament.
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