Home minister: I worked closely with Shamaan, but we make ‘no exceptions’ in combating crime

Home Minister Ali Ihusan dismissed allegations of harboring a personal vendetta against former Controller General of Immigration Mohamed Shamaan Waheed on Wednesday, telling the Parliament that the two had maintain close and friendly relations when they worked together, but that the government will take action against anyone who comes in conflict with the law, no matter who the person may be.

Shamaan, 36, was dismissed from his role as the head of Maldives Immigration on March 20. In a statement shortly after the news of his dismissal broke, the police said they were investigating a case involving “several employees of Maldives Immigration who misused their authority to gain undue benefits from expatriate workers.”

Investigators raided Shamaan’s residence in Male’ the same night, and seized MVR 257,475, USD 10,000 and cash in other foreign currencies, as well as electronic devices.

He was arrested on March 21, and is currently jailed pending the outcome of his trial.

Ihusan, who was summoned to the Parliament on Wednesday morning, was questioned by South Hulhumale’ MP Dr. Mohamed Shamheed – a lawmaker from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) – regarding rumors that Shamaan was framed at Ihusan’s instructions following a fall out.

Ihusan said that he and Shamaan had worked closely together in the past.

“As you are aware, we both worked closely together and worked really well together to enforce policies,” he said.

Ihusan that the incumbent administration makes “no exceptions” when it comes to people found in conflict of the law, no matter who the person may be.

He added that this is something President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has proven time and time again.

“Therefore, state institutions will take necessary action the moment a person comes in conflict with the law. This also includes I, myself. And this also includes you [parliamentarians]. This is just how it is,” he said.

Shamaan was appointed as Controller General of Immigration on November 19, 2023 – two days after President Muizzu took office.

His dismissal came as a surprise to many, as he gained praise for leading a crackdown on illegal immigration – a longstanding issue in the Maldives.

But he, along with at least four other Immigration officers, are accused of unlawfully detaining migrants and extorting money from them.

These allegations are denied by Shamaan’s family, including his wife Hidhufa Faiz, who on Tuesday described it as a frame job.

The Criminal Court initially remanded him in custody of the police for 15 days, before ordering him to jail pending the outcome of his trial on April 6. He has appealed his detention with the High Court.

Shamaan’s lawyer, Nooruh Salam, argued in court that the former Immigration chief was being treated in violation of standard protocol. He said that Shamaan was accused of corruption when his detention was initially extended to 15 days, but the police failed to involve the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as required by law during this stage.

The police have also arrested four other Immigration officers in connection to the case.

They are:

• Mohamed Alsan Ismail, 21, Moonimaage, Th. Buruni
• Ibrahim Ahmed, 37, G. Happyside, K. Male’
• Hassan Saheshan, 47, G. Happyside, K. Male’
• Ahmed Lassaan, 40, M. Hazaaree Villa, K. Male’

According to the police, their investigation uncovered that three Immigration officers working in sections other than the taskforce or the risk management section – who are usually involved in identifying and detaining irregular expatriates – abused their authority to raid a migrant accommodation building.

Seven expatriates – all of whom were found to have their documents in order - were detained with large amounts of cash in the raid.

A team of Immigration officers specialized in such raids were later brought in. They re-processed the scene, sealed the confiscated evidence and took the expatriates to the Immigration Detention Center.

At midnight on March 13, one of the expatriates – who was taken into custody with MVR 530,000 in cash – was released from detention taken to the Immigration office located at M. Star Cloud.

According to police, the sponsor who came to receive the expatriate is a family member of one of the Immigration officers arrested in the case.

The investigation uncovered that the cash confiscated with the expatriate was put into a bag and given to him when he was released from detention.

The three Immigration officers involved in the raid were seen near Star Cloud as the expatriate’s release was being processed. He left the building on a motorcycle with his sponsor, but stopped at Shaheed Ali Hingun and boarded an Immigration vehicle with one of the officers – who has also been arrested.

The police said the vehicle drove along the roads of Male’ before arriving near the expatriate’s residence. Investigators believe that “certain decisions were made” during this trip.

One of the Immigration officers involved disembarked the vehicle near Star Cloud, while a second one disembarked near the Velana Building. Meanwhile, the officer who disembarked near Star Cloud got on a motorcycle and drove near the Velana Building, and then took out the money bag from the Immigration vehicle and then took it to Shamaan’s residence.

The officers involved in the raid met with the expatriate on the street, took the money from him, and entered the building where Shamaan residences carrying the money.

“CCTV footage shows the bag had a large amount of cash when he entered the house, and the bag was scrunched up into his fist when he exited,” said the police.

Shamaan was replaced as the Controller General of Immigration by former Commissioner of Police Ahmed Faseeh mere hours after his dismissal.