Former tourism minster on run arrested in UK

Former Tourism Minister Ali Waheed who is on run since sexual assault and attempted rape cases were filed against him has been arrested by the police in the United Kingdom yesterday.

The Maldivian Prosecutor General’s Office charged the disgraced former Tourism Minister Ali Waheed of President Solih cabinet with a total of seven counts of sexual offences at the Criminal Court of the Maldives.

Ali Waheed was dismissed as Tourism Minister on July 9, 2020, following allegations that he sexually assaulted and harassed multiple female employees at the Tourism Ministry. He was initially asked to voluntarily resign but was dismissed after he refused.

The offences are:

One count of sexual abuse under article 16 of the Sexual Offences Act (17/2014)
One count of attempted rape under article 15 of the Sexual Offences Act (17/2014)
One count of indecent exposure under article 132 of The Constitution of Maldives
One count of sexual harassment under article 18 of the Sexual Offences Act (17/2014)
One count of attempted sexual abuse under article 19 of the Sexual Offences Act (17/2014)
Two counts of unlawful sexual contact under article 81 and 412 of Maldives Penal Code 9/2014.

Ali Waheed fled from the country, citing a medical emergency, after his passport was released. He was initially scheduled to arrive in the Maldives in early June as his medical treatment duration of 4 months had expired.

Ali’s arrest comes hours after he announced that his legal team would hold a press conference later this evening. The press conference was scheduled for 4:00 pm

The Maldivian police have been working with Interpol to extradite the former minister following a Supreme Court order sentencing him to two months and 12 days in jail for contempt of court. The top court sentenced him after he failed to attend an appeal hearing held at the court on August 11.