Five Arrested in Prostitution Sting at Allora Spa in Maldives' Capital

Male, Maldives - The Maldives Police Service arrested five individuals suspected of engaging in prostitution at the Allora Spa and Salon in Male. This marks a significant operation amidst concerns of a rising number of brothels masquerading as salons in the capital city.

Among the five apprehended, there are two 34-year-old women, one 43-year-old woman, a 38-year-old man, and a 39-year-old man. The three women are foreign nationals while the two men are Maldivian locals. Some of the suspects were discovered in compromising states of undress at the time of arrest.

Following the arrests, the Criminal Court remanded the three women for 15 days and the two men for different periods, one for 10 days and the other for 5 days, indicating a pending comprehensive investigation.

Allora Spa and Salon, where the individuals were arrested, is located in a city increasingly known for the high number of establishments such as these. Concerning developments have indicated that the number of these 'salons' have surpassed the number of mosques in Male, a city that previously boasted the highest concentration of mosques worldwide.

This shift has triggered alarms as now, Male holds an undesirable record – the highest concentration of brothels in the world. Critics attribute this alarming trend to the policies under President Solih, pointing out that the incidence of such activities has significantly increased since he took office.