Police transfer Rajunee from economic crime department

Maldives Police Service on Saturday announced the transfer of Superintendent of Police Rajunee Shuaib from his role as head of the Economic Crime Investigation Department.

This decision comes amid allegations of Rajunee unfairly acquiring a winner’s flat under the previous government's landlord scheme.

Rajunee was initially involved in an ongoing investigation into the allocation of land to individuals not listed in the scheme. The inquiry, which includes alleged irregularities in the distribution of winner’s flats, also involves claims circulating on social media that Rajunee was among those who received a flat under questionable circumstances.

Rajunee was prominently featured during a police press conference last Thursday, held to provide updates on the investigation. The press conference drew criticism from the public and opposition, with some accusing the police of mishandling the matter.

Following the press conference, the allegations regarding the irregular allocation of winner’s flats gained traction on social media, intensifying scrutiny of Rajunee’s involvement.

Police spokesperson Ahmed Shifan confirmed in a post on X that Rajunee has been relieved of his duties as head of the Economic Crime Department.

“This is a change in Economic Crime Investigations to retain the credibility of the investigation into the landlord scheme and to ensure that nothing adversely affects that investigation,” Shifan stated.

Shifan emphasised that Rajunee’s transfer from the role does not imply any determination of wrongdoing on his part. The leadership of the Economic Crime Investigation Department has been temporarily reassigned to another official to maintain the integrity of the ongoing investigation.

The case remains under active investigation by the Maldives Police Service.