The Guesthouse Association of Maldives (GAM) has dismissed Saudhulla Ahmed from the post of the association’s Secretary General.

GAM released a statement on Friday, highlighting that the decision was based on allegations of sexual assault, pinned on Saudhulla.

With his dismissal, Saudhulla has been removed from GAM’s executive committee as well.

The decision was reached during an exco meeting on Friday night, with the unanimous approval of 14 members present in the meeting.

While Saudhulla has been dismissed over allegations of sexual assault towards a female employee, he has refuted these claims.

As such, he earlier told RaajjeMV that the claims are baseless, adding that he has assured GAM’s executive committee of full cooperation in the investigation phase. Saudhulla gave his guarantee that he will be proven innocent if a complete investigation is conducted into the case.

On Wednesday, the President of the association, Moosa Nasih resigned, citing his belief that he should not remain in the post and carry out the responsibilities of the association’s president, when such allegations have been made against a senior official of the association and neglect has been observed in probing the case.

The sexual assault allegations were lodged against Saudhulla on June 23, said Nasih, who alleged that senior and executive committee members are trying to lay the case to rest, through political influence from the accused.

The Internal Affairs Committee of the association had initially passed to probe the case.

This comes at a time a number of senior officials at institutions, a rising Maldivian movie star as well as a former member of the president’s Cabinet of Ministers, have come under fire after cases of sexual assault inflicted by them made the spotlight.

Cases of sexual assault have been on the rise of late and protestors advocating for human rights have been taking to the streets, calling for justice.