Child's life wrecked by paedophile rapist

A six-year-old girl, who was repeatedly raped, is now paralysed from the waist down and has developed a brain tumour which has led to blindness.

She is currently receiving radiation therapy following the removal of half of the tumour at Apollo hospital in Sri Lanka.

Police sergeant Ahmed Shiyam has confirmed a man was arrested in connection with the crime last Thursday but said he could not reveal any further information.

The girl, an orphan from Raa atoll Innamaadhoo, was first taken to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) in Male’ last year after she began experiencing difficulties walking.

Her case was consequently referred to the department of gender and family, and she was put into Kudakudhinge Hiya, a children’s home in Male’ atoll Vilingili.

The head of the home, Haseena Moosa, has described the girl as a “neglected child”.

According to a nurse in Apollo hospital, Kudakudhinge Hiya employees took the girl to Sri Lanka following the onset of paralysis and blindness; doctors at the hospital discovered a brain tumour.

The nurse said it was possible the paralysis was due to the rape, which the girl said had taken place four times, but added the blindness was a result of the tumour.