The Maldives Police Service has begun an inquiry into the intentional injuring and death of a cat in HA. Hoarafushi.

A video has recently emerged on social media depicting a cat being pulled along by a rope around its neck, inciting widespread public anger and denunciation.

The Police reported on Sunday that the event was reported to them last Thursday night around 19:06pm. The authorities have interrogated three persons related to the case, documenting their accounts as part of the continuing investigation.

The Police stated that additional inquiries are ongoing to establish the complete details related to the event.

This is not the initial occurrence of such footage appearing, as earlier cases of animal cruelty recorded on video have similarly been examined by authorities.

Acts of cruelty towards animals are deemed a criminal offense under Article 625 of the Penal Code. The least penalty for the crime is one month and six days of jail time, while the highest sentence can reach three months.