33-year jail sentence for man who sexually assaulted 7-year-old

H. Dh. Kulhudhuffushi Magistrate Court has sentenced a man to 33 years in prison after he was found guilty of two charges related to sexual abuse of a 7-year-old girl.

The man sentenced by court on Wednesday is Ali Zahir from Malaaz in Sh. Goidhoo.

The was charged with sexually assaulting a minor while in a respectable position – for which he was served a 15-year jail sentence, and performing a sexual act in the presence of a minor while in a respectable position – for which he was served an 18-year jail sentence.

Kulhudhuffushi Court said that Zahir had confessed his crime both to police, as well as during trial.

The verdict issued by court reads that Zahir had sexually assaulted a 7-year-old who was required to respect and trust him because of his position, over numerous days starting from middle of 2015.

Court also noted that the girl’s parents and the people with whom she lived had been negligent in preventing the abuse.