The new Commissioner of Maldives Police Service, Ismail Naveen stated that he will work to uphold the principles of police service and carry out his responsibilities with integrity.
Upon assuming his new position, Naveen shared a post on Facebook confirming his appointment to which he attracted felicitations from several individuals.
“I will work on upholding the principles of the police service as I continue to act diligently while fulfilling my responsibilities with integrity,” Naveen said in his social media post.
The Commissioner’s position became vacant after Ali Shujau, the most recent Commissioner of the police prior to Naveen’s appointment, resigned earlier on April 26th. Before he was formally appointed to lead the law enforcement force, Naveen had been the acting in-charge of the police force following Shujau’s exit.
After an official announcement was made about the vacancy, Assistant Commissioner Ahmed Shameem and the Commander of the South Police Division Faruhad Fikury applied for the post as well.
The police board on Tuesday confirmed that all three applicants were eligible for the post, and appointed Naveen with the instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs.
Shujau resigned after he attracted public criticism over police mishandling the investigation of Hawwa Yummnu Rasheed, a 21-year-old local girl discovered unconscious on a rooftop of a building in Male’ City earlier on April 18th.
Shortly after Shujau resigned, Faruhad was appointed as the acting in charge of the force but approximately an hour later, the responsibility was formally handed over to Naveen.
Notably, it was both Shujau and Naveen who contended for the Commissioner’s position when the current administration first announced the position’s vacancy.