Govt rejects Shamman's claims on president

The government on Tuesday rejected allegations made by former Immigration Controller Mohamed Shamman Waheed that Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihsan had benefited unlawfully from quotas and work permits issued to foreign workers.

Speaking to reporters before his sentencing on charges related to robbery, abuse of official position and money laundering, Shamman said President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had failed to act on alleged corruption. He further alleged that the President was aware of wrongdoing and had not intervened.

Government spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef dismissed the claims, stating that Shamaan's remarks concerning the President were "definitely false".

The Criminal Court convicted Shamaan on three charges and sentenced him to 25 years' imprisonment.

Earlier, speaking to reporters outside the Criminal Court's Uppsala Division, Shamman said that in January last year he had informed President Muizzu of allegations that Minister Ihsan was benefiting unlawfully from the approval of quotas and work permits for foreign workers.

According to Shamman, MVR 8,000 was charged for each quota issued and US$1,800 for each approved Bangladeshi worker.

He said the President was in Estonia at the time and had informed him that allegations had been received claiming that Shamman was acting against Minister Ihsan personally and that the minister had not violated any law.

"The President was in Estonia at the time. While he was there, he said that he had received allegations that I was acting personally against Minister Ihsan and that he had not done anything against the law," Shamman said.

"And I'm sure he won't. It's not about being loyal."

Shamman also alleged that he had been "framed" by Minister Ihsan and Attorney General Ahmed Usham. He said his efforts to address corruption had contributed to the actions taken against him.

In posts published on X on Tuesday, Shamman repeated allegations against Minister Ihsan, President Muizzu and Usham. He alleged that Maldives' border control system had been transferred to individuals connected to Minister Ihsan. He described the matter as a "major crime" involving both Ihsan and Usham and claimed evidence remained on his mobile phone, which is in police custody.

"For trying to stop this and for opposing it, I was contacted directly by President Muizzu on several occasions. On the last occasion, he became angry and threatened me, saying, 'this will not change any more'," Shamman wrote.

Shamman was arrested in March last year on allegations that he had used his position to obtain benefits from foreign nationals. He was released nine months later, in December.

He has maintained that the investigation was politically motivated and directed against him personally. He also alleged on Tuesday that Minister Ihsan had ordered the release of a foreign national accused of stealing money.