Family petitions to expedite trial in Shamaan case

The family of Mohamed Shamaan Waheed, former Immigration Controller General, who faces corruption charges, has filed a petition asserting his indefinite detention is a tactic to postpone justice.

Shamaan was arrested on March 21 on allegations of misusing his official position for personal gain from expatriate workers. The Criminal Court subsequently remanded him to judicial custody. His appeals to the High Court and Supreme Court both upheld the remand, with the Supreme Court ruling on June 18 that no circumstances warranted his release.

Shamaan's wife, Hidhufa Faiz, stated on social media that Shamaan has been imprisoned without a single remand review, despite legal requirements for a review every 30 days, calling it "heartbreaking" to see this basic right denied. She shared a petition, urging support from Shamaan's well-wishers to sign and aid in his pursuit of justice.

https://t.co/vxOpjxsP6c
For the past five months,
Shamaan has been imprisoned without a single remand review, despite the law requiring one in every 30 days.
It is heartbreaking to watch him denied this basic right. I kindly ask all his well-wishers to sign this petition and… pic.twitter.com/MFrH9K3e0R

— Hidhfa Faiz (@hadhoo) August 25, 2025

The petition highlights that other individuals accused in similar cases have been released, while Shamaan remains in custody indefinitely, which the family deems unfair and a violation of the right to equal treatment. The family and close associates believe the charges against Shamaan are "framed" and politically motivated, as per the petition.

The petition calls for Shamaan's release, arguing that five months is an excessively long period without justice, and that such a delay inherently constitutes a lack of justice.

According to police, Shamaan was arrested after he and his colleagues allegedly extorted over MVR 500,000 from a foreign national, with the money subsequently taken to his home after the expatriate's release from immigration custody.

Shamaan has been charged with three major counts:

• Felony charge of complicity in robbery: Carries a potential sentence of three years, two months, and 12 days.

• Charge of abuse of official status: Carries a potential prison sentence of one year, seven months, and six days.

• Money Laundering: Carries a potential imprisonment of five to 15 years or a fine not exceeding five times the amount of money involved in the crime.

The family alleges that Home Minister Ali Ihusan framed Shamaan, claiming Shamaan possesses evidence of the minister's corruption, including an incriminating video. Furthermore, the family states that Shamaan had informed President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of the alleged corruption via a letter in December of last year, detailing corruption in the issuance of quotas and work permits for expatriates.

Former President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayoom has also publicly accused Shamaan of being framed and criticized the investigation into the case as improperly conducted.