A police media officer confirmed that the suspect was taken into custody on October 29 but declined to reveal further information.

The suspect is reportedly from Meemu atoll and was married to a woman from the island. He had previously been arrested on drug-related charges.

Newspaper Haveeru meanwhile reported yesterday that the suspect had sexually abused six under-aged boys.

A resident of Ihavandhoo told the paper that the man had been living in the island for many years and had two children. The male victims, aged 6 to 12, were however not related to the suspect.

The Ihavandhoo islander claimed that the man took his victims to boat sheds and that the abuse had been going on for some time.