House searched in Facebook child sex abuse probe

Police have searched a house in the capital over a child sex abuse investigation.

Images of young children were posted on a Facebook page along with statements encouraging child sex abuse.

Police confiscated items they believed to be related to the case, they said, but refused to reveal further details.

Images of Maldivian girls who appear to be below the age of 10 were posted on the page.

The Maldives has seen a rise in child sex abuse cases, with more than 400 cases reported last year.

A mandatory child sex offenders’ registry was published in 2015 under a law on child sexual abuse prevention.

The punishment for sexually abusing a child is up to 25 years in prison.