The Criminal Court has sentenced a man to 15 years in prison after finding him guilty of rape.
According to the Criminal court, the state brought a rape charge against Ismail Jumaan, of Kanduroalhi, Laamu Atoll Maabaidhoo, in connection with the forcible rape of a victim inside a guesthouse in Malé on 23 March 2022.
The Criminal Court stated that the report was not uploaded to its website in order to uphold public moral standards.
Consequently, the Criminal Court found him guilty of rape under the Sexual Offences Act and sentenced him to 15 years in prison.
The sentencing comes amid heightened public scrutiny over sexual violence cases across the country, including an ongoing investigation in GDh. Thinadhoo that came to light in late October involving the alleged gang rape of a 22-year-old woman and the sexual abuse of girls under the age of 18.
Police have arrested nine men from Thinadhoo in connection with the investigation, all of whom remain in custody. Following detention reviews for five suspects initially remanded for five days, the court ordered Ahmed Nooh Niyaz, 20, to remain in custody until the conclusion of his trial. At the same hearing, the court extended the detention of the remaining four suspects for varying periods, remanding Mohamed Mishal Ahmed Zuhair, 20, for a further 30 days, Najmullah Hassan, 35, for 45 days, and Mohamed Solih Ahmed, 26, and Ahmed Saanij Soadhig, 32, for an additional five days each.
Four other suspects arrested in connection with the investigation remain in custody under earlier remand orders that have not yet expired. Among them, Ahmed Iftisham Zareer, 24, and Ali Huzaam Saeed, 31, were each remanded for 90 days, while Aazim Mufeed, 24, and Mohamed Maisan Shiyaz, 21, were each remanded for 15 days.
