Ministry Denies Claims That UK Assault Suspect Is Maldivian Passport Holder

The Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly denied circulating claims that Sundaralingam Kudalingam, a man arrested in London for an alleged sexual assault, is a Maldivian national.

The Daily Mail reported that the 36-year-old suspect, identified as Sundaralingam Kudalingam, was arrested in the United Kingdom for allegedly assaulting a film star. According to British authorities, the suspect had traveled from Sri Lanka to the UK.

No Maldivian Connection, Says Ministry

In response to speculation on social media that the individual is a Dhivehi passport holder, the Ministry stated that there is no evidence or official record indicating that Kudalingam holds Maldivian citizenship or has any familial ties to the Maldives.

“We categorically deny that the suspect is Maldivian,” the Ministry said in a statement. “The name and identity do not align with known citizen records. This individual is neither a Muslim nor known to have any family ties in the Maldives—making it highly unlikely, if not impossible, for him to legally hold a Maldivian passport.”

Concerns Over Passport Misuse

The Ministry acknowledged reports from European law enforcement that Maldivian passports stolen abroad may have been sold to foreign nationals seeking to enter Europe illegally.

Maldivian authorities are currently investigating whether any stolen or fraudulently issued passports were involved in this case. The government emphasized that it has strict identity verification procedures and that the misuse of national documents will be addressed with full legal consequences.

“In a country as closely-knit as ours, where communities know each other well, the appearance of completely unfamiliar names tied to national documents is highly suspicious and will not be tolerated,” the statement added.

Ongoing Investigation

While the man in custody has been confirmed to be from Sri Lanka, Maldivian authorities say they are coordinating with Interpol and UK authorities to ensure that no forged or fraudulently obtained Maldivian documents were involved.

Background
The case has sparked debate online, with users questioning how a foreign national with no known connection to the Maldives could possess a Maldivian passport. The government has urged the public not to spread misinformation and to await verified updates from official sources.