Malé, Maldives – The Maldives Police Service on Thursday made multiple high-profile arrests regarding leaked videos portraying same-sex sexual relations.
Police arrested a police officer, ex-parliamentarian and high-profile lawyer under court warrants today.
The post recent arrest was prominent lawyer and ex-President Mohamed Nasheed’s brother Ahmed Nazim.
Earilier today police arrested former MP for Nolhivaramfaru constituency Mohamed Nasheed (Colonel) and a police officer belonging to the Drug Enforcement Department Abdul Rahman Rafeeu.
The first arrest in the case was Bangladeshi citizen Alamgir, with who was the common denominator in a sex scandal involving over 200 high-profile individuals.
Maldives adopted a new Penal Code in 2014 which criminalises same-sex sexual activity, as well as explicitly criminalising same-sex marriage. Maldives also abides by Islamic Shariah law, under which same-sex sexual activity is prohibited. Same-sex sexual activity carries a maximum penalty of eight years imprisonment and 100 lashes.
Criminal Provisions
- Penal Code 2014, Section 410(a)(8) Unlawful Marriage Section 410(a)(8) prohibits same-sex marriage with a penalty of up to one year imprisonment.
- Penal Code 2014, Section 411(a)(2) Unlawful Sexual Intercourse Section 411(a)(2) criminalises intercourse between persons of the same sex with a penalty of up to eight years imprisonment.
- Section 411(d) permits an additional penalty under Sharia law of 100 lashes. This provision is applicable to both men and women.
- Penal Code 2014, Section 412 Unlawful Sexual Contact Section 412 prohibits sexual contact with a person of the same sex with a penalty of up to eight years imprisonment. This law applies equally to men and women.
Early reports suggest that multiple high-profile individuals were video graphed at guesthouses in a blackmail operation.
