Commissioner of Police (CP) Mohamed Hameed has stated the Maldives Police Service (MPS) has no means of bringing back former Minister of Tourism Ali Waheed, who fled the country while on trial for sexual harassment charges.
Ali Waheed fled to the UK earlier this year, citing a need for urgent medical treatment. In September, MPS stated it had received official confirmation that Ali Waheed was being held in the UK over immigration-related charges, and that it was now working to bring Ali Waheed back to the country for his trial. However, MPS failed to bring him back to the country.
Speaking at a press conference held on November 21, CP Hameed stated there is no way for MPS to bring Ali Waheed back to the country for his trial. Hameed said even an Interpol Red Notice cannot ensure that Ali Waheed will be brought back, as different countries and jurisdictions act differently to the Red Notice.
The former minister is facing charges of sexually assaulting and harassing some of the female employees in the tourism ministry. He has been charged with two counts of sexual abuse, two counts of unlawful sexual contact, a single count of attempted sexual abuse, indecent exposure, and a single count of attempted rape.