Nine Maldivians Arrested for Sexual Assault of Woman and Children

Police in the Maldives announced on Thursday that nine Maldivian nationals have been arrested in connection with the sexual assault of a 22-year-old woman and several children. The incident was reported on Tuesday in an island under the Upper South Police division. A special team from Malé has been deployed to the island to assist with the investigation, which police say is being treated as a serious matter. The arrests follow a report made to police on Tuesday, and subsequent investigations revealed further cases of child sexual exploitation. Authorities have not disclosed the specific island or the identities of the suspects. The investigation is ongoing. The arrests come amid a rise in reported sexual offences in the Maldives. Police statistics show that 272 sexual crimes were reported last year, and 221 have been reported so far this year.