Former State Minister of Finance of Maldives,Mohamed Ashmalee who was held in remand custody for allegedly sexually exploiting the 15-year old girl was today ordered to be released on bail by Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court.
He was ordered to be released on a cash bail of Rs.25,000 with two sureties of Rs.5 million after being produced before Colombo Additional Magistrate Lochana Abeywickrama.
Additional Magistrate further issued an order preventing the suspect from leaving the country.
Meanwhile, former State Minister of Finance and three other suspects were today identified by the victimized girl at an identification parade.
The Police Children and Women’s Bureau told court that investigations in respect of former State Minister of Maldives have already been concluded but they were conducting further investigations into three other suspects. Hence the three suspects concerned were ordered to be further remanded till July 29.
The Court was informed that 40 suspects have been arrested so far and seven of them have been released on bail.
Seven suspects including girl’s mother, Deputy Chairman of the Mihintale Pradeshiya Sabha and a cardiologist attached to Welisara Navy Camp had been released on bail at a previous occasion.
The Police have launched an investigation against the suspects under Penal Code for procuring an underage girl for prostitution and human trafficking.
