President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has stated that pardoning and leniency for those arrested and convicted of child sexual abuse is unacceptable.

The president made the remark in a post on X on Saturday morning, after a man arrested last year for allegedly sexually assaulting his granddaughter in Thaa Atoll Veymandoo has been released.

The President said the government is asking the Prosecutor General to appeal against court decisions to release those arrested on charges of sexual assault.

“Pardoning or showing leniency towards people arrested or convicted for sexual offenses against children and releasing them is completely unacceptable,” he wrote. “The government has been instructing the [Prosecutor General’s Office] PG to appeal such decisions as soon as possible.”

“Let us all work together to free the Maldivian community from the evil claws of such despicable individuals,” he added.

The remark comes amid increased public outrage over a decision by a court last week to release a suspected child sex offender, and amid rumors of child sex offenders being freed to gain votes for the upcoming parliamentary elections.