Maldives Supreme Court has upheld the 15-year prison sentence passed by the Criminal Court against Mohamed Muneer (G.A. Kanduhulhudhoo) who was found guilty of raping his 13-year-old step-daughter on multiple occasions from 2011 to 2014.

The case was appealed at the Supreme Court claiming that the High Court supported the Criminal Court ruling outside the law.

After reviewing the case, the Supreme Court ruled in support of the original Criminal Court verdict stating that under the law regarding the special rulings against child abusers, the punishment for abusing children while in a position of authority is 15 years as per the law and there is no room to bring a change to the ruling.

It was noted that the child in question in the case have faced sexual abuse while she was six years old by her uncle while others have abused her while she was eight years old.

The Medico-Legal Report on the case by the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services show that the victim has psychological and physical injuries due to the sexual abuse and threats made against her.