Police seek charges against Shamman over extortion of expats
Five individuals, including Shamman, were arrested and remain in custody.
Top Stories
The Maldives Police Service has requested the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) to file charges against former Immigration Controller Shamman Waheed in connection with a case involving alleged extortion of a foreign worker.
The case involves an unauthorised operation carried out by immigration officials on 25 March, during which a group of foreign workers was detained and MVR 530,000 was allegedly taken from one individual.
Police initiated the investigation on 20 March. Five individuals, including Shamman, were arrested and remain in custody.
Chief Inspector Ahmed Azmath Abdulla stated at a press briefing on Tuesday that the investigation has concluded, and charges were forwarded to the PGO on Sunday. According to police, evidence suggests the operation was planned in advance.
Police allege that immigration officials raided a residence in Maafannu ward where foreign workers were staying. The operation was reportedly carried out in violation of immigration procedures, and the officials involved were not assigned to the task force authorised to conduct such raids. The three officials named in the operation are:
-
1-
Ibrahim Ahmed
-
2-
Ahmed Lassan
-
3-
Mohamed Alson Ismail
Police findings indicate that:
-
The operation was conducted with the knowledge of Shamman.
-
A significant sum of money was taken from one of the detained foreigners.
-
Seven foreign nationals were taken to the detention facility in Hulhumale.
-
A letter requesting the release of the foreigner in possession of the money was sent to Immigration earlier that day, purportedly from the individual’s sponsor.
-
The letter was later found to have been falsified and submitted without the sponsor’s knowledge, including a phone number in place of a name for the individual authorised to collect the foreigner.
-
Shamman allegedly referred to the letter and ordered the release as an “urgent” matter.
-
The foreign national was released and handed over to one of the employees involved in the unauthorised raid.
-
The money was placed in a white bag and transferred during the release.
-
CCTV footage shows the foreigner and one of the employees driving away before the money was handed over to Ibrahim Mohammed.
-
The car later stopped at the foreigner’s residence, and the individual exited the vehicle without the bag.
-
The car was then parked near the President’s Office.
-
Another official, Ahmed Lassan, was seen exiting the vehicle.
-
Both individuals were later seen on bicycles entering Shamman’s residence at 3 a.m. carrying bags. They exited the house three minutes later without the bags.
The PGO is now reviewing the request to determine whether formal charges will be filed.
