The recent arrest of local film actor Ibrahim Giyaas (Dhaas) and cross dresser tailor Mohamed Haneef is a high profile case in question.
Over the past three years, cases involving homosexuality increased, along with the number of people involved in them, police said. During that period, some 36 cases were filed, involving 65 men and 11 women. In 2000, 15 cases were filed involving 27 people, while last year, 16 cases were filed involving 37 people.
Some people have been arrested repeatedly for the same office, according to police.
The most number of people arrested for involvement in a single case was during last year; in that case some eight people were arrested, police said.