A major clarification today from Maldives Immigration, pushing back against false claims in a high-profile sexual assault case reported in the UK.

The case centers on Sundaralingam Koodalingam, a 36-year-old man sentenced last week to four years in prison by Southwark Crown Court for sexually assaulting a well-known young singer and actress during a massage session at a Soho parlour in London.

Several British media outlets, including the Daily Mail, reported that Koodalingam was originally from the Maldives and had moved to the UK in 2021.

But in a statement released this morning, Maldivian immigration authorities flatly denied any link to the man. The statement reads, “There is no record of this individual ever holding Maldivian citizenship or entering the Maldives as a resident.”

Officials also called on international media to fact-check nationality claims before publication, especially in cases involving serious crimes that could tarnish the image of countries and their citizens.

Some media outlets are now suggesting Koodalingam may be of Indian origin, though this has not yet been officially confirmed.