High Court orders detention of teacher accused of grooming students

High Court has overturned the decision by the local magistrate court to grant conditional release to a school teacher detained on suspicion of grooming multiple students by discussing age-inappropriate topics and has ordered his detention.

The teacher has been identified as a 29-year-old male.

The case was reported to the South-Central Police Division – which covers islands in M. Atoll, F. Atoll, Dh. Atoll, Th. Atoll, and L. Atoll – on October 17^th of last year. He was arrested 10 days later on October 27.

The magistrate court of the island initially remanded him in custody of the police for 20 days, and later extended it by 30 more days. However, the magistrate court granted him conditional release when presented for a remand extension on December 18^th.

High Court, on Tuesday, ruled that the magistrate court granted him release after considering there is no threat to the society even if he is released. The apex court stressed that the release of individuals accused of such crimes poses a threat to the safety of society.

Moreover, the Court said it cannot ascertain whether daily life was shaped in a manner where children are safe based on the documents submitted by the Police. It emphasized that despite the teacher having no prior record of such a crime, his release would not protect other children from the crimes he currently stands accused of.

As such, the Court overturned the order ordering the teacher’s release and ordered his detention for seven days. High Court has instructed the Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office) to seek his remand from the magistrate court within this period.

According to the court order, the teacher taught primary grades in a school. Evidence has been submitted against him for committing sexual acts against male students below the age of 18 who were studying at the school where he taught. It further states he is suspected of grooming a large number of students to commit sexual acts.

As the case involves the interests of several children, both the police and High Court have withheld details of the island where the incident occurred to prevent disclosure of the identities.