HC refuses appeal of Ali Waheed's passport release, issue to be submitted to Supreme Court

The High Court has refused the appeal submitted regarding the release of former Minister of Tourism Ali Waheed's passport on Sunday.

The Prosecutor General's Office submitted the appeal to High Court on 14 February. The High Court had refused the appeal on account of it having been submitted 48 hours after the order to release Ali Waheed's passport was issued. The High Court also notes that a seven-day period will be issued to appeal the case following the Registrar's ruling. The appeal was rejected by the High Court on Sunday.

Ali Waheed's passport was released on 9 Febraury by the Criminal Court on grounds of him needing to seek medical attention from abroad. Ali Waheed departed to the UK that very same eveniing, with his close known associate and State Minister for Youth and Sports Assad Ali (Adubarey) having signed on as his guarantor.

The PG Office went on to affirm that they would be pursuing legal action against the guarantor responsible for Ali Waheed's travel abroad, State Minsiter for Youth and Sports Assad Ali (Adubarey) should Ali Waheed fail to return to the Maldives within the next four months as under the Court order. Assad Ali is a close known associate of Ali Waheed.

Noting that Ali Waheed had previously evaded a trial by fleeing the country, the PG Office said that it would be legitimate to consider him a serious flight-risk. The state highlighted that there was a very real chance Ali Waheed would flee to a foreign country to avoid prosecution, especially in light of the sensitive nature of the allegations raised against him, given the opportunity.

The PG Office raised seven charges pertaining to sexual violence and misconduct against Ali Waheed in November, who was removed from office in July after the allegations made against him by ministry employees were brought to the president’s attention.

Waheed maintains his innocence, claiming that the accusations against him were politically motivated.