State Minister Ashad sentenced to 15 days in jail

State Minister of the Youth Ministry Ashad 'Adubarey' Ali has been sentenced to 15 days in jail.

Former Tourism Minister Ali Waheed, against whom a criminal case was ongoing, appointed Ashad as his guarantor to ensure his return when the Criminal Court permitted him to travel overseas for medical purposes. However, Ali failed to appear in court within 72 hours when he was summoned on November 28, 2021. At the time, Ashad said Ali attended the hearing via video conferencing.

As Ali had failed to appear in court as agreed, a hearing was held Wednesday to decide how to penalize Ashad in his role as Ali's guarantor. The presiding judge Hassan Saeed said while the court summons was delivered to Ashad, he did not attend the hearing. The sentence was delivered in his absence.

Judge Hassan Saeed said the court permitted Ali Waheed to travel abroad despite a travel ban on the condition that he returns within four months. Ashad signed a document as his guarantor stating the same.

The judge said Ali later requested the court to carry out his trial online via video conferencing, and two hearings were held in this regard. However, the Supreme Court then issued an order stating that the trial could not be conducted online, after which the online hearings were halted. Although Ashad noted that Ali had appeared at hearings via video conference, there are no signs to indicate that Ashad, in his role as Ali's guarantor, made any attempts to ensure Ali's return to the Maldives, the judge said.

The judge further pointed out that Ashad's actions were a deliberate act of contempt of court. While Ashad had not relayed to the court the reason for his absence at Wednesday's hearing and not appearing at court, the judge said these actions too are in contempt of court.

Adding further that Ashad had violated his agreement with the court, the judge said his actions obstructed Ali's trial. Moreover, he said that his actions cast an undesirable image on the court and the trial, and he must face the consequences for his actions.

Therefore, the judge ordered Maldives Correctional Services to jail Ashad for 15 days for violating the agreement with the court and failing to ensure Ali's appearance at court.

Judge Hassan Saeed said the court would schedule a hearing for February 7 regarding the sexual harassment charges raised against Ali Waheed.

Ali, who faces multiple sexual harassment charges, fled the country under the pretense of seeking medical treatment in February 2021 and is currently in the United Kingdom. Despite orders by both the Criminal Court and the Supreme Court to present himself to court, the former minister has not returned to the Maldives. As a result, the court issued an order seeking his arrest as he violated the terms of the arrangement that allowed him to seek medical treatment abroad due to his failure to attend court hearings. He is also guilty of contempt of court.

Seven charges have been raised against the former tourism minister, who was dismissed from his post over sexual harassment allegations. The charges raised against Ali Waheed include inflicting sexual injury under Article 16 of Sexual Offences Act, attempted rape under Article 15 of the same act, indecent exposure under Section 132 of the Penal Code, sexual assault under Article 18 of the Sexual Offences Act, attempt to cause sexual assault under Article 19 of the Sexual Offences Act, and two counts of unlawful sexual conduct under section 412 and 81 of the Penal Code.