Hameed rejects allegations over police camera deal, cites transparent procedures

Former Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed has denied allegations that the procurement of body-worn cameras for police officers involved irregularities, stating that the process was conducted in accordance with established procedures.

The issue was raised during a meeting of the Parliament’s Finance Committee, where a sub-committee is investigating alleged corruption cases within the police service. Committee Chair and Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim told members that the camera procurement project had been awarded through single-source procurement for MVR 66 million after the initial tender process was cancelled.

Nazim said the former Commissioner resigned following the transaction and later joined the company that supplied the cameras, suggesting a possible conflict of interest.

Responding to the allegations, Hameed wrote on his blog that the purchase had followed due process. He said the equipment supplied by Zetta Enterprises was used by law enforcement agencies in several developed countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Singapore. The company’s subsidiary, Zetta Technologies, is the authorised distributor of Exxon products in the Maldives.

Hameed said the proposal was formally submitted to the Maldives Police Service, after which technical and operational evaluations were carried out. He said an internal assessment, tender review, and institutional approval processes were completed before the procurement decision.

He also stated that the cameras were purchased on a four-year payment schedule and represented the most suitable option available during a period of fiscal constraint. According to Hameed, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has already received complaints from unsuccessful bidders in relation to the same project.

Addressing questions about his current employment, Hameed said he joined Zetta six years after retiring from the police. He stated that his role involves leading the company’s expansion into the public safety and security technology sectors across the Indian Ocean region.

“The company approached me based on my professional experience. It was not an appointment influenced by any prior dealings,” Hameed said.

He added that no law in the Maldives prevents former police officers from working for companies that have supplied goods or services to the police after their retirement. In other countries, similar restrictions generally apply for six months to one year, and he took up his role well beyond that period.