Malé, Maldives – Former State Minister for Youth and Sports Ashad Ali has submitted into the custody of the Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) at Velana International Airport earlier today.
The Commissioner of Prisons Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu stated that the former state minister returned to Maldives voluntarily and is now in the custody of the MCS to enforce his sentencing.
On February 2, the Criminal Court sentenced Ashad Ali to 15 days in jail for contempt of court upon his failure to present fugitive Ali Waheed at the Criminal Court.
At the time of sentencing, Ashad was not in the Maldives and the sentencing was not enforced.
Alleged sexual offender Ali Waheed exited Maldives after assigning State Minister for Youth and Sports Assad Ali as his guarantor prior to his departure citing a medical emergency. While the defendant was supposed to return to the Maldives in June as his medical treatment duration of 4 months had expired, Waheed still remains in the UK.
On November 28, Criminal Court Judge Hassan Saeed issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the former Tourism Minister Ali Waheed charged with 7 counts of sexual offences under the Maldives Penal Code. The warrant has since been translated by the court upon request by the Maldives Police Service to pursue an interpol red notice to extradite Ali Waheed.
The Prosecutor General’s Office is charging the suspect Ali Waheed with a total of seven counts of sexual offences at the Criminal Court of the Maldives. These being;
- 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.
To date, Ali Waheed has denied all the charges that were raised against him. However, if he is found guilty of the charges levied against him, Waheed will face up to 21 years imprisonment.
