Colombo: The former Minister of Maldives has been arrested in Sri Lanka for the alleged sexual exploitation of a little girl, police said here on Monday.
Mohamed Ashmalee, Maldives former Minister of Finance and the other four were arrested on Sunday in this case.
The 15-year-old girl has been sexually exploited in the Mount Lavinia area for more than three months, police said.
Senior Police spokesman Inspector General Ajith Rohana said the 32 suspects, including the girl, a local politician from the North Central Province and a prominent gem businessman, had been arrested so far in connection with this case.
According to the police, they took the lead in the case after a 35-year-old man was arrested on June 8 on charges of selling teenagers online for sexual activities.
The man reportedly published two web advertisements, offering to sell the girl.
Two website owners have been arrested, police said.
A cottage manager was arrested on Sundays and the police had identified 12 more people involved in the crime.
Police suspect Ashmalee, who is also a former Chairperson of the Maladvia Dhhiraugu telecommunication company, is a customer of the girl and she costs a network that continues to exploit him, Maladves’ Media Outlet Mihaaru News reported.