The ruling People's National Congress (PNC) spokesperson Heena Waleed has said that action will be taken against a government official accused of involvement in a major sexual assault case if the allegations can be proven.
President's Office Assistant Under Secretary Mohamed Hassaan is accused of assisting former Tourism Minister Ali Waheed to allegedly sexually assault several employees. Hassaan is also accused of providing drugs.
Speaking at her daily press briefing at the PNC office, Heena expressed concern over the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party's (MDP) not taking any action after the leak of statements from alleged rape victims while Ali Waheed is running for Parliament on an MDP ticket.
"Many sexual assault and rape cases of Ali Waheed surfaced before and the PG [Prosecutor General] took back the cases. But we want to question whether it's in line with the party's principles to go ahead without saying anything about it when it has surfaced again?" Heena said.
However, when questioned about Hassaan's involvement in the case and the ruling party's stand, Heena said action will be taken only if the allegations can be proven.
Hassaan was the Political Director of the Tourism Ministry when Ali Waheed, who had been appointed as Tourism Minister on a Jumhooree Party (JP) slot, was accused of sexually assaulting female staff at the ministry in 2021.
The cases emerged when 13 employees of the Tourism Ministry went to the President's Office with the Gender Minister at the time and told the President about Ali Waheed's sexual assaults. Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih wept when he heard the stories, the media reported at the time.
After the investigation, the PG office filed charges against Ali Waheed, who left the country for medical treatment after the trial started.
In August that year, Ali Waheed was arrested in England over violations of the UK's immigration law. He was released after a temporary detention. The British government later determined the arrest to have been unlawful and apologized to Ali Waheed.
While he was in the UK, the alleged victims of rape and assault withdrew statements provided as evidence against Ali Waheed, after which the PG office withdrew the court cases. Ali Waheed returned to the Maldives in July last year after the charges were dropped.
Ali Waheed was not involved in politics immediately after his return and focused on sports. However, as the presidential election approached, Ali Waheed worked as a campaign agent of JP candidate Qasim Ibrahim.
He joined the MDP on December 7 and is currently running for Parliament.
Hassan, who is accused of involvement in the case, was appointed Assistant Under Secretary at the President's Office. He is seen as a staunch supporter of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. The government has also appointed him as a board member of Island Aviation.
When questioned about this during today's press briefing, Heena claimed that President Muizzu will not discriminate in taking action in such cases. However, the allegations must first be proven, she added.
“The government's stand is that if anything can be proven, they will get the punishment they deserve,” Heena said.
She said journalists must question the PG office for withdrawing the charges. But the journalists pressed on about why the government was not investigating the case and why the alleged offender had not been suspended.
Heena reiterated that the PG must press charges in the case.
"The government will think about it and take the necessary action," she added when journalists repeated the question.
