Ihusaan says journalists separated after phone found in cell

Ali Ihusaan said on Thursday that journalists Leevan Ali Nasir and Mohamed Shahuzan were separated into isolated prison cells after a mobile phone was discovered in their shared cell, adding that the matter is under police investigation.

Ihusaan made the remarks in response to comments made by Shahuzan following his release from prison after serving a 15-day sentence.

In an interview after his release, Shahuzan alleged that he and Leevan were separated in an attempt to intimidate them and said prison officers searched his cell repeatedly after the transfer.

Responding in a post shared on X, Ihusaan rejected the allegations and stated that Shahuzan’s account was false.

According to the Minister, correctional officers searched the journalists’ cell at 7:35 PM on 15 May after receiving information from a member of the public. He stated that the search was conducted in the presence of both detainees.

Ihusaan said officers discovered a mobile phone concealed inside clothing stored in a cupboard.

“Following this discovery, and in line with procedures applied to other inmates in similar circumstances, these two individuals were placed in separate cells for monitoring purposes,” he said.

The Minister also stated that the subsequent searches carried out in the cells were standard prison procedures and were not conducted under instructions from Mohamed Muizzu.

“Least of all, prison matters like these are not decided by the President,” Ihusaan wrote, adding that President Muizzu had never issued instructions regarding prison operations during his tenure as minister.

He further confirmed that the case involving the discovery of the mobile phone is being investigated by the Maldives Police Service.

Ihusaan also stated that three local journalists had previously asked him about the separation of Shahuzan and Leevan and that he had shared the same information with them at the time.

He said none of the journalists had reported the details.

Shahuzan had earlier alleged that prison officers entered his cell almost every night after the separation and carried out searches intended to intimidate him.

The two journalists were imprisoned after the Criminal Court ruled that they had violated a gag order issued in connection with a defamation case involving allegations against President Muizzu.

At the time Leevan was transferred from the shared cell, media outlets reported claims from his lawyer that he had been moved into isolation.

When questioned previously regarding the transfer, the Maldives Correctional Service did not publicly disclose the discovery of the mobile phone and stated only that inmate transfers were internal administrative matters.