Authorities Refute UK Convict is a Maldivian Citizen

MV+ News Desk | August 9, 2025
A screenshot from a video posted on Maldives Immigration’s X account on Spetember 20, 2024, depicting a Maldives Immigration officer checking the passport of a foreigner in the Maldives | Photo: Maldives Immigration X Account

Maldivian authorities have refuted claims that a man convicted of sexual assault in the United Kingdom is a citizen of the Maldives.

On Thursday, Maldives Immigration said in a statement that Sundaralingam Koodalingam, named in some UK media reports as a Maldivian national, is not a citizen of the country. The agency urged media outlets to avoid spreading misinformation.

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The Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology also issued a statement yesterday, clarifying that both the Department of National Registration and the Maldives Immigration had verified the individual’s identity. According to the Ministry, no one named Sundaralingam Koodalingam is registered as a Maldivian citizen, nor has a Maldivian passport ever been issued under that name.

The Ministry said the claim linking Koodalingam to Maldivian nationality is unfounded and unsupported by any official documentation. It called on all media and individuals to verify information with authoritative sources before publication or circulation, stressing that responsible reporting is vital in matters that could influence public understanding or national perception.

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