The Prosecutor General’s Office has filed multiple criminal charges against Dr. Hussain Sunny Umar, owner of Travelution, in connection with alleged sexual abuse of children, exposing him to a potential minimum sentence of 44 years in prison if convicted.
According to a statement released by the Prosecutor General’s Office, the charges were formally submitted to the Criminal Court on March 16, 2026. The charges relate to several incidents of alleged sexual abuse involving minors as well as additional offenses linked to obstruction of the police investigation.
Three of the charges fall under Section 3 of Law No. 12/2009, the Prevention of Sexual Offences Against Children Act, which criminalizes intentionally touching a child’s body with sexual intent. Prosecutors state that one victim was allegedly abused repeatedly over several years, beginning before the child reached the age of seven and continuing until August 2025. Two additional charges relate to incidents where victims were reportedly between 9 and 11 years old.
Each of these offenses carries a potential prison sentence of 10 to 14 years.
In addition to the child sexual abuse charges, prosecutors have also filed two further counts under the Maldives Penal Code. One charge alleges obstruction of justice under Section 530 after Hussain Sunny Umar allegedly failed to surrender a mobile phone to police despite a Criminal Court order, claiming the device had been lost. Another charge alleges providing false information to a state authority under Section 521 for allegedly giving police incorrect details about the SIM card used in the phone believed to be connected to the case.
If the charges are proven, prosecutors have stated they will request the maximum penalties permitted under law, which would result in a combined minimum sentence of 44 years in prison.
The Prosecutor General’s Office further confirmed that Hussain Sunny Umar has been held in remand custody since January 2, 2026, pending the conclusion of his trial. The detention was ordered under Section 30 of the Prevention of Sexual Offences Against Children Act and Article 49 of the Constitution of the Maldives.
The case has drawn significant public attention due to Hussain Sunny Umar’s role as the owner of The Travel Guys Pvt Ltd, which operates tourism publications including Travelution, Maldives Halal Travel, and The Island Post, along with a travel agency under the Maldives Halal Travel brand.
With formal charges now filed and prosecutors seeking maximum penalties, the case enters a critical phase as the Criminal Court prepares to hear one of the most closely watched child protection prosecutions in recent years.
