Former Councillor Aiman Arrested Over Child Sexual Abuse Allegations 

Mohamed Aiman Ismail, a former Malé City Council member representing the South Maafannu constituency, was taken into police custody yesterday evening on allegations of sexually abusing a minor, law enforcement authorities confirmed.

The Maldives Police Service confirmed Aiman’s arrest but withheld specific case details, citing statutory protections governing investigations involving minors.

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The arrest follows intense public scrutiny sparked earlier this week after the family of an alleged victim publicly questioned why an accused individual remained free months after a formal complaint was lodged, drawing sharp comparisons to the immediate, high-profile arrest of former Foreign Minister and former UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid the day before yesterday.

The move comes amid mounting criticism from civil society and child rights advocates regarding procedural delays, selective prioritization, and inconsistent pre-trial detention practices in child sexual abuse investigations.