Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ahmed Shifan is facing serious allegations of sexual misconduct, abuse of authority, and corruption, yet whistle-blowers claim the cases remain uninvestigated due to his political connections.
The allegations were submitted to Parliament’s Security Services Committee (241 Committee) by 11 senior police officers, all above the rank of Chief Inspector. Their letter, also sent to the President’s Office and the Minister of Homeland Security, outlines a pattern of misconduct spanning more than a decade.
According to the report, ACP Shifan is accused of sexually harassing female officers and civilian staff, including an alleged assault of an 18-year-old administrative support officer last year. The letter also cites a 2014 case involving a female officer while Shifan was Commander of the South Police Division, and two alleged assaults at the Commissioner’s Office in 2018.
One of the most serious claims involves a rape complaint filed by a female civilian employee in October 2024. Whistle-blowers allege the case was dismissed without action due to Shifan’s influence, and that the Professional Standards Command (PSC) was instructed not to proceed with the investigation.
The report also accuses Shifan of misusing public funds during a 2018 official trip to Malaysia, where he allegedly shared a hotel room with the wife of a police officer. Police later ordered him to repay MVR 61,990 after discovering that her expenses were charged to the police budget.
Police Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police Ahmed Shifan. (Sun Photo/Ahmed Avshan Ilyas)
In addition to sexual misconduct and financial abuse, Shifan is accused of attempting to frame senior officers in a 2023 investigation into illegal cigarette imports. He allegedly pressured a lawyer to falsely implicate a deputy commissioner and an assistant commissioner, and contacted journalists to spread the claims.
The whistle-blowers say Shifan’s actions have eroded trust within the police force and violated the institution’s code of conduct. They also allege that his close ties to political figures have shielded him from accountability.
The letter calls on Parliament to launch an independent investigation and take disciplinary action. It also references similar concerns involving Deputy Commissioner Farhad Fikry, who is accused of obstructing investigations and using undue influence to protect his son in a separate criminal case.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Farhad Fikry.
Meanwhile, ACP Mohamed Dawood, who was removed as Chief of Hulhumale' Police, is also under scrutiny after Parliament’s Finance Committee flagged unexplained funds entering his account. Dawood denies the allegations.
Whistle-blowers warn that continued inaction could cause irreparable damage to the integrity of the Maldives Police Service.