High Court upholds 15-year sentence for man convicted of molesting minor relative

On Tuesday, the High Court maintained a 15-year prison sentence for a person found guilty of sexually abusing a child in his own family. The judgment reinforces the initial decision made by the Hulhumale' Magistrate’s Court in a matter that goes back to 2021.

The proceedings were overseen by the appellate bench, which included Justices Hussain Mazeed, Mohamed Niyaz, and Mohamed Shaneez Abdullah. Following established legal procedures, the case was handled in a private environment, emphasizing the welfare of the child victim.

The official case report states that the offender assaulted the child sexually while she was asleep. Additionally, the report reveals that the convicted person continually tried to coerce the victim's family into dropping the case, expressing worries about their reputation.

This High Court ruling occurs against the backdrop of recent examination of the state's management of child sexual abuse cases. The prosecution has faced backlash for retracting multiple cases appealed in the High Court, referencing their "stale" quality as the events took place nearly ten years ago.