The High Court has maintained the 18-year prison term given to a man found guilty of sexually assaulting his wife's younger sister.

The incident occurred 13 years ago, in 2013, when the Maldivian man assaulted his wife’s eight-year-old sister. The prosecution accused him of child sexual abuse by someone in a position of authority, and the lower court determined last year that the crime had been established. He received an 18-year prison sentence.

The man challenged the conviction and sentence at the High Court. The High Court upheld the ruling of the lower court on Tuesday.

In the appeal, the appellant contended that the case relied on a made-up narrative shaped by the child’s family. The High Court observed that this same defense was presented in the trial court and determined that the appellant did not provide any proof to support the claim that the child's testimony was fabricated.

The High Court determined that the findings of the lower court were valid and that the conviction and 18-year sentence ought to be upheld.