Ex-Tourism Minister Ali Waheed leaves for London after travel ban lifted

Former Tourism Minister Ali Waheed – who has been charged with attempted rape and six additional sexual offenses - departed from Maldives on Tuesday, the same day the Criminal Court cancelled a travel ban issued against him in connection to the case.

The Criminal Court issued a travel ban against him on July 12, 2020. The order was cancelled upon review on Tuesday.

A Criminal Court official told Sun the court lifted the travel ban after hearing testimony from a doctor to confirm Ali Waheed needs to travel overseas for medical treatment.

The official said the Prosecutor General’s Office did not object to allowing Ali Waheed to travel overseas, and that the court therefore made the decision to lift the travel ban as he had also submitted a guarantor for his return.

Sun has been informed Ali Waheed departed to London, UK, on Tuesday.

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

He has been pressed with seven charges; attempted rape, inflicting a sexual, indecent exposure, sexual assault, attempt to cause sexual assault, and two counts of unlawful sexual contact.

He pled not guilty to all seven charges on January 24.