Allegedly molested child in defence of Qari’ Thaufeeq

Haveeru
The child who was summoned for the police investigations into the multiple child molestation charges against famed Qari’ Hussein Thaufeeq of Maafannu Dreamy Light, attended as Thaufeeq’s defence, the child claimed.

Criminal Court Wednesday suspended Thaufeeq’s lawyer Abdulla Shiyaz, as he represented one of Thaufeeq’s alleged victims in police investigations.

In a letter sent to Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed, the 20-year-old woman, then a child, said lawyer Shiyaz represented her on her request. She knew that Shiyaz was Thaufeeq’s lawyer, she added.

According to the letter, she attended in Thaufeeq’s defence.

A police spokesperson said the woman is being questioned as one of the victims.

Shiyaz appealed his suspension in High Court and filed a complaint in Judicial Service Commission (JSC) against Judge Abdulla Mohamed.

On September 1, the court extended Thaufeeq’s custody to 15 days for the second time following his arrest on August 17.

Students of “Quran Teachers’ Course” submitted a petition to Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) against Thaufeeq. Islamic Ministry sacked him from his post as a resource teacher at Centre for Holy Quran around two months ago for “reports of misconduct.”

According to Child Sex Abuse (Special Provisions) Act, a person convicted of touching a child with a sexual intention or involving a child in a sexual activity shall be sentenced to 10-14 years of imprisonment.

The Act also states that molesting a child by a person who can be trusted by the child will lead to the person being sentenced to 15-18 years of imprisonment.