Maldives Immigration has issued a formal statement denying claims that the individual recently convicted in a UK sexual assault case is a Maldivian citizen.

The response comes after reports surfaced in both local and international media identifying the convicted individual, Sundaralingam Koodalingam, as a Maldivian national.

Koodalingam was sentenced to four years in prison by a London court for sexually assaulting an actress according to reports.

Maldives Immigration clarified that the individual is not registered as a Maldivian citizen with any official government agency.

The statement read that he does not hold Maldivian citizenship, and that he is not in any of the national registries. 

Authorities urged media outlets and the public to refrain from disseminating false or misleading information, especially in sensitive criminal cases.