Cabinet discusses 14-year-old boy’s disappearance while in state care

The cabinet has been briefed about 14-year-old Shaim Abdulla, who went missing from Kudakudhinge Hiyaa orphanage in Villimalé over a week ago.

Minister of Gender, Family and Social Services, Shidhatha Shareef, discussed the case with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday at the president’s office. 

According to a court order issued by the Juvenile Court on Sunday morning, Shaim was under state care at Villimalé orphanage when he ran away from the centre at around 9.30am on June 18.

The teenager was taken into care to escape “from an environment of crime”, a gender ministry spokesperson told the Maldives Independent.

Parliament’s Human Rights and Gender Committee has been looking into Shaim’s disappearance since Monday.

The police told the Maldives Independent on Wednesday that they are still looking for the boy. They have already searched three houses in connection with the boy’s disappearance and are analysing CCTV footage for leads.