Supreme Court of the Maldives has announced it has overturned the decision to allow the trial of former Minister of Tourism Ali Waheed to continue online.
The Supreme Court revealed its decision in a court order signed by justices Husnu Suood, Mohamed Ibrahim, and Ali Rasheed. In the court order, the justices stated no court hearing should be allowed to be conducted using video conferencing even if the defendant is abroad.
Ali Waheed left the country in February citing a need for urgent medical treatment and requested he attend the court hearings via videoconferencing.
Criminal Court accepted the request and allowed the former minister to attend the first hearing of the trial on June 22 via videoconferencing.
Additionally, High Court rejected the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) request to overturn the decision. Former minister Ali Waheed is facing charges of sexually assaulting and harassing some of the female employees at the Ministry of Tourism. He has been charged with two counts of sexual abuse, two counts of unlawful sexual conduct, a single count of attempted sexual abuse, indecent exposure, and a single count of attempted rape.
Supreme Court sentenced Ali Waheed to two months and 12 days in prison in August for contempt of court after he failed to appear at a scheduled court hearing.