Maldives Police Service has arrested a 35-year-old man for grooming a-year-old girl for sexual exploitation.

Police said that the report came in to the South-Central Police Division on Wednesday that a man attempted to groom an underage girl over several days encouraging her to sexual acts and attempted to exploit her sexually.

The 35-year-old suspect was arrested with a court order and an investigation is underway according to the police. However, since the cases involving children falls under serious crimes, further details on the child including the atoll and island, would not be released.

According to the law, child grooming is defined as attempting to conduct sexual acts with a minor by offering money or other material objects and gaining their trust and confidence.