As a result of his overstaying his visa, Former Tourism Minister Ali Waheed was held by British authorities in late August, just before he was set to hold a press conference, said that he will say what he was going to say and he will be back.

Ali Waheed tweeted on Friday night that he will not back down in the face of political accusations, character assassinations, and defames against him and that he will make whatever sacrifices are required to ensure that the Maldivian people have access to a fair and just legal system.

" With God's help, I'll be able to say what I've been trying to convey. “I'll be back,” he stated.

Ali Waheed was terminated as Tourism Minister on July 9, 2020, following charges that he sexually assaulted and harassed many female Tourism Ministry employees. The initial request was for him to quit on his own, but when he refused, he was terminated.

The jury has indicted him on seven counts of sexual assault and two counts of unauthorized sexual contact, including attempted rape and inflicting sexual, indecent exposure.

He was initially subject to a travel ban, but on February 9, the Criminal Court temporarily released his passport and permitted him to travel abroad for medical treatment. In no time, he was on his way to London, where he is now.

Concerning Ali Waheed's extradition, earlier CP Hameed explained that the Maldives and the United Kingdom do not have an extradition agreement, thus there are formalities that Police is attending to.