Akram seeks NIC probe over police conduct in land allegations

Former Minister of State for Housing, Akram Kamaaluhdheen, has filed a complaint with the National Integrity Commission (NIC) over allegations made by the police in a high-profile land allocation investigation.

Akram has accused the police of issuing a misleading statement, which he claims unlawfully linked him to the case and tarnished his reputation.

The controversy stems from a police press conference held on the night of December 19, during which Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdulla Shareef discussed an ongoing investigation into land allocations made under the 'Binveriyaa' scheme. Shareef suggested that certain land allocations, allegedly issued by the previous government, involved forged documents and questioned the role of Akram, who served as Minister of State for Housing during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Akram has denied the accusations and sought an investigation into the police's conduct.

In his complaint to the NIC, Akram stated that the police had improperly referenced him during the press conference despite his lack of involvement in the case. He emphasised that the police had no valid reason to discuss his name or his role in the land allocations, particularly since he no longer holds any official position.

He also expressed concern that the police’s actions were designed to undermine the integrity of the previous government and mislead the public about the current administration's corruption efforts. According to Akram, the police’s remarks were not only baseless but violated the rules and regulations governing police conduct.

Akram pointed to Article 29 of the Police Service Act, which outlines the responsibility of police officers to safeguard the rights and freedoms of individuals during investigations. He argued that by making unsubstantiated claims about him, the police violated this principle and unjustly harmed his reputation.

The former minister also highlighted several constitutional provisions he believes were infringed upon. Article 17 of the Constitution guarantees the right to non-discrimination, particularly regarding an individual's political views, while Article 51 ensures the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law. Akram contended that Assistant Commissioner Shareef’s remarks violated these rights and portrayed him unfairly as a suspect in the case, despite no formal charges being brought against him.

The controversy took a further turn when it was revealed that the investigation centers around the alleged misuse of land registration documents. Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed, Deputy Managing Director of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Empowerment (MWSE) and brother of former HDC Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed, told the police that the previous government had granted land registrations to individuals who were not on the list of official beneficiaries.

In the press conference, Assistant Commissioner Shareef confirmed that six people had been questioned, including Fazeel. However, Shareef did not provide clear answers on whether the documents in question had been forged or when they had been issued. Initially, he stated that the documents were issued during the previous government’s term, but later he referred to them as having been granted by the prior administration. Despite these unclear statements, Shareef pointedly accused Akram of being involved in the land allocation process, although no charges were filed against him or anyone else.

Responding to the police’s statements, Akram took to social media platform ‘X’ to clarify his position. He denied ever meeting with the police or being contacted for any inquiry related to the documents in question. Akram also expressed frustration that the police had publicly discussed the matter without conducting a forensic analysis of the documents or properly investigating their origins.

"I have never met the police. I have never had any communication with him. He has not asked me to meet him for anything," Akram wrote in his post, dismissing the police claims as baseless and unfounded.

The police’s public statements have caused a significant stir on social media, where Akram has been the target of insults and accusations. He argues that the police’s actions have led to widespread defamation and have tarnished his reputation without providing any evidence of wrongdoing.