Three arrested in Gan on prostitution charges

Two men and a woman were arrested from the island of Gan in central Laamu atoll last night on suspicion of engaging in illicit sexual relations.

A police media official told The Maldives Independent that the suspects were arrested from a guesthouse in the island around 11:30pm based on intelligence information.

The official said the police suspect prostitution in the case, but whether or not sexual assault was involved would only become clear during the ongoing investigation.

Prostitution and fornication are both classified as a class 1 misdemeanour under the new penal code and is punishable with a jail sentence up to one year. The Islamic Shariah punishment of 100 lashes can also be issued.