Maldivian actor Jumayyil Nimal, who is currently facing child abuse charges, won the Best Male Actor Award at the Maldives Society for Performing Arts (MSPA) Film Awards held last night.

Jumayyil received the award for his performance in the film Gohraalhu, which also won the award for Best Film.

The actor was accused of raping his 17-year-old cousin in 2017. The case was forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office, which in 2020 decided not to pursue child abuse charges, citing lack of evidence. However, Jumayyil was charged with possession of pornographic material. At the time, concerns were raised that he had avoided prosecution due to his ties with influential individuals.

In 2021, following a review by the new Prosecutor General, Jumayyil was formally charged with child abuse. The case remains ongoing, with the most recent hearing scheduled for July 2025.

When the allegations first emerged, several filmmakers distanced themselves from Jumayyil and publicly voiced criticism. Despite this, he returned to the film industry within months and, in 2023, played the lead role in Gohraalhu.

His win at the MSPA Awards has sparked renewed debate about accountability and ethics in the Maldivian film industry.