Police launch probe into fake report of Yameen’s arrest warrant

An investigation has been launched over a fake police report circulated over social media over an invalid arrest warrant issued against then President Abdulla Yameen, police said Tuesday.

An invalid court order to arrest Yameen was issued from Alif Dhaal Mamigili Magistrate Court. Ahmed Nihan, then a magistrate of the court, and then prosecutor general Muhthaaz Muhsin were arrested and served sentences.

A report is circulating on social media claiming to be an investigation report. Police issued a statement on Tuesday denying the report.

In the statement, police said the report was not valid. The report, which is almost identical to the original, is being investigated very seriously, police said.

According to the police, the report included then Acting Commissioner of Police Abdulla Nawaz's name, but his signature was forged with that Assistant Commissioner of Police Ahmed Shifan.

The report was made by copying the format used in official police documents, forging the signatures of other police officials and altering them in various ways, police said.

In addition, the police said that a document claiming to be an intelligence report of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is also circulating on social media. The ACC has requested to investigate the case saying that it is not a valid document.

“The Maldivian police service urges all citizens not to participate in spreading such inaccurate information which creates a bad image among the public," the police statement read. 

Yameen's party, the People's National Front (PNF), has been discussing about the fake documents and repots every night at their party office meetings and making presentations.