Police board probe pres medal award to penalised officer

Police board has launched an enquiry into the award of the President's Medal of Honour to Chief Superintendent Mohamed Dawood, who was recommended by the police board to be dismissed from service.

Last week, five officers were awarded the President's Medal at a function held to mark the police anniversary. One of them was Dawood.

Police Board president and former commissioner Ahmed Faseeh told Atoll Times on Monday that they are looking into how the president's medal of honour was awarded to a policeman who was recommended for dismissal.

The board has now asked the police service to clarify the matter, he said.

Faseeh was appointed to the police board set up on April 9, 2021 under the new Police Act, in December 2022. In August 2021, nine officers, including Dawood, were recommended by the board for dismissal. At that time, the board was headed by the now ambassador of Maldives in Sri Lanka Ali Faiz.

Of the nine officers who were recommended for dismissal, two wanted to retire with honours at the time. The remaining five officers including Dawoodwent to the court in connection with the case.

The new Police Act says:

Former police commissioner Abdulla Riyaz, now serving as MP from Thimarafushi constituency, said on Twitter that the President's Medal should be awarded or withdrawn after due diligence.

"Today, we are witnessing people who have no vision, plan and governance doing things their way when they are in power," Riyaz, who is also the vice-president of MNP, said on Monday.