Ali Waheed summonded to Supreme Court on August 2

Supreme Court has summoned former Tourism Minister Ali Waheed to the court for a hearing on the case submitted against him by the State on holding his trial online.

Ali Waheed who stands trial for multiple charges of sexual violence currently resides in the UK.

Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) appealed the decision by Criminal Court Judge Hassan Saeed to allow Ali Waheed to attend his trial virtually from the UK on June 25. However, the High Court threw out the petition on July 8, citing a lack of legal and judicial basis to hear the case as an appeal – following which PGO appealed High Court’s decision to the Supreme Court on July 11. 

At this time, Sun can confirm that Supreme Court has sent the summons directly to Ali Waheed – to attend a hearing scheduled for 13:00 of August 2.

PGO filed the appeal citing that holding a hearing via video conferencing in a criminal trial with the defendant in a location outside of Maldives’ jurisdiction is in violation of Criminal Procedure Code, and that the court will not have the jurisdiction to penalize the defendant, even if he is held in contempt of the court.

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 injury, indecent exposure, sexual assault, attempt to cause sexual assault, and two counts of unlawful sexual contact.

He initially had a travel ban order against him, but the Criminal Court temporarily released his passport and allowed him to travel overseas for medical 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 – which expired last June.