Ex-tourism minister's phone seized by police amid sexual abuse inquiry

Police have confiscated the mobile phone of former Tourism Minister, Ali Waheed.

Waheed was recently fired from the post of tourism minister, following sexual abuse claims.

While police launched an inquiry into the sexual assault allegations within the tourism ministry last week, they on Sunday revealed that some electronic belongings of the former minister have been seized for the investigation. Police did not disclose the items confiscated.

However, RaajjeMV understands seized were Waheed’s phone and laptop.

A police team conducted a search at his residence, on Saturday night, under a court order.

While police confirmed this to the media, they did not disclose any further details.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, last Wednesday, told Waheed to handover his resignation. However, following his failure to hand in his resignation, the president dismissed Waheed from post.

According to the president’s spokesperson, this was following complaints of inappropriate behavior at the workplace.

While he did not reveal any additional details into the complaints against the now former minister including the nature of the complaints, an official at the tourism ministry who wished to remain anonymous told RaajjeMV that Waheed has been accused of sexual assault by a number of female employees at the ministry.

Waheed has denied the allegations. He, via Twitter, said that “time will tell the truth” and that truth “will always prevail”.