Hameed denies bodycam deal allegations, urges investigation

Former Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed has denied allegations of corruption surrounding the procurement of body-worn cameras for the Maldives Police Service, calling the claims politically motivated and urging authorities to investigate and reveal the truth.

The controversy stems from a MVR 66 million contract awarded to Zeta Technologies in 2022 to supply body-worn cameras and taser devices. The contract was initially opened for competitive bidding but later shifted to single-source procurement, drawing scrutiny from a sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim.

Nazim, speaking at a committee meeting on Tuesday, said a whistleblower had raised concerns about the procurement process and alleged misconduct by senior police officials. He noted that Hameed joined Zeta Technologies after retiring from the police force in November 2023, suggesting a potential conflict of interest. “He got employed at the company that supplied this after he retired,” Nazim said. “This case involves him joining the company that got awarded the contract during his tenure and promoting these products.”

In a statement issued Thursday, Hameed confirmed that Zeta Technologies is the exclusive distributor of Axon products in the Maldives, including bodycams and tasers used by law enforcement agencies in countries such as the US, UK, Australia, and Singapore. He said the procurement followed proper evaluation and bidding procedures, and was signed over a four-year period during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Allegations that I favoured a supplier during my tenure as Commissioner are unfounded. The process was transparent, lawful, and cleared by the ACC. I welcome a full and thorough investigation.

Here is my statement:https://t.co/LKydNfJfua

— Mohamed Hameed (@M_Hameedh) October 16, 2025

Hameed added that a complaint filed by an unsuccessful bidder was reviewed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which found no violations. He emphasized that his post-retirement employment was based on his experience in police digitalization and that no law prohibits former executives from joining government-linked vendors, citing international norms of a six-month to two-year cooling-off period.

He clarified that he joined Zeta Technologies 1.5 years after retirement, not six months as is litigated. Hameed said the allegations were driven by political and personal interests and reiterated his support for a formal investigation.

The Maldives Police Service officially launched body-worn cameras on February 13, 2022, as part of a modernization initiative led by Hameed during his tenure.