Former Tourism Minister Ali Waheed has won the primary held to decide the candidate for the MDP's Kulhudhuffushi South constituency in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Ali Waheed, who was the Tourism Minister during the previous MDP government, was sacked after several female employees of the ministry met former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and accused him of sexually assaulting them.
The case led to a police investigation and prosecution of Ali, who was charged with a number of sexual offenses by the prosecutor general’s office.
The court granted him permission to travel abroad for medical treatment. He then went to England and lived there for some years. He returned to Maldives after all the charges were withdrawn.
The Supreme Court convicted him of contempt and sentenced him to jail for failing to appear. However, the court later quashed the sentence.
After the presidential election, Ali returned to the MDP. He first joined the MDP after being elected from Thoddoo constituency on the former DRP ticket.
After joining the MDP, he served in the party’s leadership, with a stint as the MDP’s chairman, as well.