Police deny but face criticism over leak of activist’s photo

The Maldives Police Service has denied allegations that a personal photograph of MDP activist Aishath Shiman Ahmed was leaked after her phone was seized as part of an investigation into a social media post allegedly threatening to assassinate President Mohamed Muizzu.

Public criticism intensified on social media after Shiman’s personal image began circulating online, prompting the police to issue a statement on Saturday night addressing the accusations.

In its statement, the police said international standards are followed in handling digital devices and data obtained during investigations.

“The security of all materials and information contained in devices brought into police custody is fully guaranteed under the established procedures. There is no possibility of information leakage from a mobile phone held in police custody,” the statement said.

The police described the claims of leaked material as “false and baseless.”

However, the statement drew further criticism online, with several users expressing scepticism and referencing previous incidents that, they said, had undermined public confidence in law enforcement and state institutions.

Some users cited the disappearance of USD 30,000 in cash from police custody and the recent loss of 13 million cigarettes from containers at the Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) terminal as reasons for distrust.

“Two 40-foot containers inside MPL went missing — how can we believe that evidence in police custody is secure?” wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter).

Others accused the police of potential misconduct in handling seized electronic devices. “Police can do anything. They cloned my SIM card once. First, the telecom denied it, but later admitted it,” said activist Thoyib Shaheem in a post.

Several social media users have called for an independent investigation into the alleged photo leak, saying it raises concerns about how digital evidence is managed.

Police recently seized the phones of Shiman and MDP National Assembly Member Fathimath Zahiyya under provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allows law enforcement to obtain court orders to search and extract information from electronic devices.

The relevant provisions of the Code include:

The police have not announced any inquiry into the alleged leak at this time.