Three-year-old Girl Molested

A Maldivian construction worker was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly molesting a three-year-old girl in her home.

The girl’s father said the 28-year-old man came to Alif Alif atoll Rasdhoo a week ago for work and was renting a room at their house.

“This happened on Monday,” he said. “I was shocked when I heard the news that my daughter had been molested.

“I can’t even begin to describe what happened to me. My blood began to boil and I wanted to finish him off with my bare hands”

The girl’s father said she had disappeared on Monday at around 11.30am and was later found crying in the man’s room.

“When she was having a bath, she told her mum she had felt a burning sensation when she urinated. Then when we questioned her, she said the man had molested her.”

If police failed to investigate the case, he added, angry islanders would “sentence” him themselves.

Medical reports showed the girl had been sexually assaulted, said Ahmed Shakir, director for Alif Alif atoll hospital

Shiyara Mohamed Didi, assistant director of department of child and family protection unit, said there has been a rapid increase in the number of cases reported and the department was “very concerned”.

When a case is reported, the department carries out medical tests, looks for evidence and provides a counselling service.

“People are more aware about reporting child abuse cases. Previously, cases were only reported if a child became pregnant.

“But today, society believes that even showing pornographic images and objects to children constitutes abuse. I can’t say child abusing rates are increasing. But the recorded rates have increased of course.”

Although no survey has been carried out to investigate the reasons for child abuse, some cases are related to drugs and housing issues, said Didi.

To tackle child abuse cases, the department of child and family protection unit has established 20 family and children service centres across the islands.

In December 2008, police said four incidents of gang rape in the capital Male’ were being investigated by the Maldives Police Service, and all the victims were under the age of 18.

More recently, a 14-year-old girl was raped by a man performing 'fanditha' on her – a traditional Maldivian healing process which involves reciting Quranic verses.

Child sex offenders were banished for one- to two-year with 10 to 19 lashes until February 2008, but the sentencing guidelines were amended following increasing pressure on the government from human rights groups, local NGOs and the public after a series of high-profile sexual offence cases.

Now child sex offenders are sentenced from three to eight years' imprisonment.