Another audio leaked, allegedly of a confrontation between Nahula and Waheed

Another audio allegedly involving the tourism minister has been leaked online.

While alleged audios of Ali Waheed were first leaked online last week, the voice said to be him is heard make offensive and degrading comments about his colleagues, including Transport Minister Aishath Nahula, Education Minister Aishath Ali and Health Minister Abdulla Ameen.

Waheed claimed that the audios “are fake”, and called it an attempt to defame him. Police have launched an investigation into the audios, over a sexual misconduct issue in one of the clips.

The new leak is allegedly of a phone call between Waheed and Nahula, where the latter is confronting him over the comments made in the previous ones.

While the tourism minister continued to deny the authenticity of the audio clips, the voice said to be Nahula confirms that the phone call between two that was leaked previously is real; Waheed is heard making degrading comments after hanging up the call.

She questions Waheed on how an audio “can be edited like that”, adding that “I would know that the phone call happened”.

Some local media outlets have reported that the sexual harassment issue has been submitted to the President’s Office. However, it is yet to confirm or deny this.

Both Nahula and Waheed are from ruling coalition partner, Jumhooree Party (JP). While Waheed is the president of the party, the transport minister is the wife of its founder and leader Qasim Ibrahim.

While a motion to remove Waheed from the party was submitted at its last council meeting, Qasim said that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will make a decision on the matter.