A former state minister of the Maldives is allegedly among four people arrested by Sri Lankan police in connection to a child sex trafficking ring in Colombo’s Mount Lavinia town. A total of 32 people have been arrested by police in Sri Lanka in the case. 

The case involves the sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old girl in Mount Lavinia for over three months, media reports case. Among the arrested includes the mother of the 15-year-old girl. Sri Lankan authorities confirmed the identity of the Maldivian man. 

Sun news of the Maldives, citing credible sources, reported that the arrested Maldives national is Mohamed Ashlee, a former state minister for finance and the chairman of telecom company Dhiraagu during former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration.

He has been identified as a customer, according to Lankan authorities, and faces charges of aiding the sex trafficking ring as well.

People involved in the case had allegedly published a couple of advertisements on websites, seeking clients for their dirty trade. The main suspect in the case was arrested on 7 July. In addition to the main website used to promote the child for sex in exchange for cash, four other websites have also been identified.

Police revealed an additional 12 suspects, already arrested, identified as having committed statutory rape.

(SAM)