Ali Waheed to receive 20,000 pounds in compensation for unlawful arrest in UK

Former tourism minister Ali Waheed states he is set to receive 20,000 pounds (MVR 289,260) in compensation after it was found that he was arrested in the UK unlawfully.

Ali Waheed shared a statement released by his lawyers on X.

As per the statement, Ali Waheed was unexpectedly arrested by UK Police in August 2021 and placed in temporary detention. The lawyers said evidence, backing he had not violated any laws or regulations, was shared with the relevant authorities subsequent to the arrest.

The lawyers said UK authorities had admitted that Ali Waheed’s arrest had been unlawful during discussions held between the lawyers and the UK government ahead of filing a lawsuit on behalf of their client against the UK government for wrongful arrest.

They also noted that the UK government has issued a formal apology and agreed to compensate Ali Waheed for losses arising from the arrest. 

Ali Waheed returned to Maldives on July 11^th following almost three years of self-exile in the UK after the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO)’s decision to file the case against him after victims and witnesses making sexual misconduct allegations against him sent a letter to the PGO and the police, requesting the authorities to drop the case.

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

He was also dismissed from his post as the leader of JP after amending the articles of association of the party.

Ali Waheed was pressed with seven charges in connection to the allegations; attempted rape, inflicting a sexual, indecent exposure, sexual assault, attempt to cause sexual assault, and two counts of unlawful sexual contact. He left the Maldives mid-trial, claiming for medical purposes.

At the time of his return, not only the sexual misconduct case against him had been dismissed, the Supreme Court sentencing Ali Waheed to two months and 12 days in prison for contempt of court after he failed to show up for a hearing, had also been nullified.