Man arrested for sexual assault on 9-year-old

A man was arrested in Male’ on Tuesday night for sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl.

Police reported that the suspect was a 42-year-old man. And that he was arrested from a house in Mafannu district of Male’.

A large crowd had gathered near the house where the man lived, when police went to arrest him.

Police have not revealed any further information regarding the case.

However, a neighbor of the victim reported to “Sun” that the man arrested was a neighbor who frequented the victim’s house. And that he had been reported to police by neighbors.

Child abuse – sexual, physical and emotional – is prominent in Maldives.

State has revised Anti-Child Abuse Act to prescribe harsher punishments for child abusers. While high-profile cases like that of toddler Ibthihal - who died from injuries suffered through abuse – has raised public awareness and number of cases reported to authorities.