Prosecutor General’s Office seeks travel ban order against ex-Tourism Minister Ali Waheed

Prosecutor General’s Office is seeking another court order to hold the passport of former Tourism Minister Ali Waheed as he stands trial for multiple charges of sexual violence, including attempted rape.

Prosecutor General’s Office spokesperson, Public Prosecutor Ahmed Shafeeu confirms they have made a request with the police to file for an order to hold Ali Waheed’s passport.

“A request has been made with the police to file for an order to hold Ali Waheed’s passport,” said Shafeeu.

Shafeeu said that the Prosecutor General’s Office hopes the order will prevent Ali Waheed from fleeing from UK to any other country, except back home to Maldives.

“As a result of holding the passport, he will be prevented from general travel from one country to another using his passport,” he said.

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 initially had a travel ban order against him, but the Criminal Court temporarily released his passport and allowed him to travel overseas for medial treatment on February 9, despite requests by the Prosecutor General's Office not to release his passport and grant him temporary travel papers instead. 

State Minister for Sports Assad Ali, one of Ali Waheed’s closest allies, signed as the guarantor for his return within the four-month period granted by the court for his travel overseas.

Prosecutor General’s Office has previously stated that Ali Waheed left Maldives before the court ordered the release of his passport.

Ali Waheed is currently in the UK. The request by Prosecutor General’s Office for a travel ban on him comes after the four-month period granted by the court expired earlier this June.

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 during his arraignment at the Criminal Court on January 24. He faces minimum 21 years in prison if convicted of the charges.