Malé, Maldives – The Supreme Court of Maldives on Tuesday ruled in favour of the High Court order upholding the Hithadhoo Magistrate Court’s order to remand Aminath Dhiye (Aimindhatha) arrested under suspicion of child sexual abuse in Addu City till the end of trial.
Supreme Court made this decision after the 59-year-old janitorial staff was released on April 21 as the Prosecutor General’s Office has decided to not press charges due to lack of evidence.
Upon appeal by Aminath Dhiye’s defence lawyer who had previously that Dhiye was arrested unlawfully, the Supreme Court supported the ruling of the High Court and the Hithadhoo Magistrate Court on the matter.
Previously, the High Court ruling read that the remand order was correct based on evidence provided by the police. The Court further stated that cases of child sexual abuse are a threat to society.
The contentious case was presided over by Chief Justice Muthasim Adnan, Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir and Justice Husnu Al Suood.
Aminath Dhiye was arrested in the southern region for the sexual abuse of a 6-year-old girl on 25 March 2022 and was remanded to custody till the end of the trial by the Hithadhoo Magistrate Court. The arrested has been working as janitorial staff at an Addu City school for 29 years.
The public alleges that Aminath Dhiye was framed for the crime. Following her release, Aminath Dhiye joined protests calling for justice for the child sexual abuse victim. Police have not pursued the case any further and no one has been charged for the crime since due to lack of evidence.
