Maldives Correctional Service has said that they have received the court ruling of the prison sentence on the former Tourism Minister, Ali Waheed and so the process is underway to implement the order.

With the former Minister failing to appear at the court, the Criminal Court passed a ruling yesterday to imprison Ali Waheed for two months and 12 days and ordered the Correctional Services to execute the order.

Information Officer of the Maldives Correctional Service, Aminath Yusreen told One Online today that the documentation came in this morning and the process to carry out the sentence is underway.

She said that the regular procedure is that if the convicted is not in remand, a request is made to the Maldives Police Service to bring that person in. And so, a request will be made to the Police in this case as well.

While pending seven different charges of sexual assault, the Criminal Court released Ali Waheed's passport and he left abroad to the UK where he took part in one hearing in his trial via online. However, questions were raised on continuing the trial while the defendant is outside the jurisdiction of the Maldives.