Police working with UK authorities to extradite Ali Waheed

Maldives police service has begun efforts to extradite former Minister of Tourism Ali Waheed with the help of United Kingdom authorities as well as Interpol.

12 days after his arrest from the UK, Maldives Police Service (MPS) was officially informed of Ali Waheed’s arrest on September 7.

The disgraced ex-minister who has been charged with several counts of sexual assault, was arrested on August 25 while in hiding in the UK, through Interpol. He was preparing for a press conference at the time of the arrest. Ali Waheed’s visa had expired on August 10.

Police media official told RaajjeMV that work is underway to extradite Ali Waheed to the Maldives, to complete the sentence issued by the Supreme Court earlier, with the assistance of Interpol.

Further efforts are being carried out through a police-to-police cooperation operation.

The police institution is currently preparing to seek assistance from Interpol to extradite the disgraced minister, very soon.

It has been 15 days since Waheed has been detained after being arrested due to an expired visa.

It has since been reported that Waheed is currently detained in a prison located in Gatwick.

It was earlier revealed that Waheed had sought from authorities to let him remain in the United Kingdom so that he can attend a doctor’s appointment prior to a spine surgery scheduled for September 26. RaajjeMV understands that Waheed has not decided against returning to Maldives nor has he sought refuge from the UK government.

Waheed, who traveled to UK after signing a guarantor deal with State Minister Assad Ali, was given a four-month medical leave. He departed shortly after being granted the request to travel, on February 9. The period granted to him ended in June.

Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office filed an appeal request at the country's top court, after the lower court decided to continue the hearings in the trial online, asserting that a court hearing should be held where the state can implement the verdict of a Maldivian court.

As such the PG Office cited that holding the hearing for a criminal trial online with the accused currently outside of the Maldives, is in violation of the Maldives Criminal Procedure Code and that the court does not presently have the jurisdiction to penalize the accused.

Efforts to extradite the disgraced ex-minister come at a time the Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) has also sought assistance from the police institution to bring Waheed back, to do his time.

The Supreme Court had held a hearing in the appeal case earlier this month, where Waheed was ordered to present himself to court. However, he didn’t turn up, with which he was slapped with a prison sentence of two months and 12 days for contempt of court.

After the court ruling, police confirmed efforts to arrest the former minister through Interpol and UK authorities.

While the former minister is accused of sexually assaulting ministry employees, seven charges were raised against him in November 2020; including 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 forward a resignation letter.

Waheed claims that the sexual assault allegations against him were “politically motivated”.