'Hastened' promotion of senior police officers
“The promotions that were arranged then are being given now,” Younus said.
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
Just two days before the end of the government's presidential term, some senior police officers have been given special promotions, on Tuesday evening. This was done when the office of the President-elect, has also asked not to do such things during the interim phase.
This has created unrest among some officers in the police force. Some officers who did not get the promotion told Atoll Times that this was done in a hurry. Some people were given promotions on Tuesday and some people are going to be given promotions on Wednesday, the police said.
"They took the specific officers they wanted and promoted them very secretly. They are promoting them through a list that was finalised in a hurry," a policeman said on condition of anonymity.
When asked about these promotions, Police Spokesperson Younus Sobah said on Tuesday that there was no such promotion and he would provide information after further investigation.
However, when contacted by Atoll Times on Wednesday, Younus said:
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At a ceremony at 9:30 p.m., several executive-level officers were presented with promotion certificates; Some officers will still be promoted
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Promotion was to be given to some executive level officers and some officers who have served for more than 30 years
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Details of the number of officers promoted and the promotion given will be provided after verification
It is learned that six executive level officers were promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police at the ceremony on Tuesday. They are six persons who have so far held the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police:
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Younus Sobah
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Asim Abdullah
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Mohammed Rasheed
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Ahmed Shameem
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Mohammed Basheer
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Hussain Raseeid
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Moosa Ali
Younus, who was among those who received the hasty promotions on Tuesday, denied the corruption allegations. They are, he said, without any basis.
“The promotion of police officers was announced in May and the approval of the Finance Ministry was sought in June-July. We received those permits in August”, Younus explained how the promotions had to be handed down now.
The police department decided not to give promotions during the presidential election last September, he said. That was decided after considering that, if given before the election, it could create a bad image among the public, he noted.
“The promotions that were arranged then are being given now,” Younus said.
Senior police officers were given promotions on Tuesday, while Commissioner of Police Mohammed Hameed is scheduled to retire from the service early on Wednesday.
The Transitional Office has requested that no promotions be made during this phase of the transition.
