Maldives ex-minister sentenced to two months in prison for contempt of court
He was to be physically present for Wednesday's hearing
(File photo) Former Tourism Minister Ali Waheed is charged with seven counts of sexual assault
Supreme Court has sentenced former Tourism Minister Ali Waheed to two months and 12 days in prison, for contempt of court.
While the former minister is charged with seven counts of sexual assault, he is attending the Criminal Court hearings in the trial online, from United Kingdom. Prosecutor General (PG) Hussain Shameem expressed disappointment in the lower court's decision, and filed an appeal at the High Court which was denied. Hence, the PG Office decided to file the case the country's top court.
Supreme Court had scheduled a hearing in the case for Wednesday morning, however, Waheed was absent despite having received the court summon to be physically present at court for hearing, via e-mail. The Criminal Court is to have informed the top court that Waheed had communicated with them through e-mail after the summon was sent.
Hence, the Court ruled the former minister found him in contempt of court, and sentenced him to two months and 12 days in prison. Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) has been ordered to enforce the verdict.
PG Shameem's biggest concern with Waheed attending the hearings online from abroad is that a court hearings should be held where the state can implement the verdict of a Maldivian court. He added that holding the hearing for a criminal trial online with the accused currently outside of the Maldives was in violation of the Maldives Criminal Procedure Code.
The former minister traveled to the UK the same day the Criminal Court released his passport on a "medical referral", in February. While he was given a four-month medical leave which has since expired, Waheed is yet to return to Maldives his treatment is not over.
While the former minister is accused of sexually assaulting ministry employees, seven charges were raised against him in November 2020; one count of attempted rape, one count of sexual abuse, one count of indecent exposure, one count of sexual harassment and one count of attempted sexual harassment. He is also charged with two counts of solicitation of sexual favors.
Following the allegations against Waheed, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ordered him to resign and consecutively stripped him from the ministerial post after he failed to do so.
Waheed claims that the sexual assault allegations against him are “politically motivated”.
