Sunday 25 Oct 2026
(Clockwise from L-R) Mohamed Salih Ahmed, 26; Mohamed Mishal Ahmed Zuhair, 20; Najumullah Hassan, 35; Ahmed Ifthisham Zareer, 24; Mohamed Maisan Shiyaz, 21; Ahmed Nooh Niyaz, 20; Ali Huzam Saeed, 31; Azim Mufeed, 24; and Ahmed Sanij Sadiq, 32. (Photo/Maldives Police Service)
The police on Sunday disclosed the identities of nine suspects arrested in the sexual assault of a young woman and underage girls in southern Maldives.
The case, involving the sexual assault of a 22-year-old woman in an island under the jurisdiction of Upper South Police, was reported to the authorities on October 20. The case soon grew bigger as police found evidence pointing to the sexual assault and exploitation of underage girls.
Nine suspects were arrested in the case on Saturday.
The police released a press statement on Sunday in which they disclosed the identities of the suspects. They are:
All nine were remanded in police custody on Saturday night.
The police previously stated they were investigating the case as a serious crime, and have deployed a special investigative team from Male’ to the island.
The Maldives has seen a rise in reported cases of sexual violence. The police investigated 272 cases of sexual assault last year, and have received reports of 223 such cases so far this year.
