Former Controller General of Maldives Immigration Mohamed Sham’aan Waheed has been arrested.
Maldives Police Service said Sham’aan was arrested under a court order in connection with allegations of abuse of power by some employees of the Maldives Immigration seeking illegal benefits from foreign workers.
Earlier on Friday, the police arrested three individuals linked to the allegations after conducting a search at a premise in Male’ City. The court has since remanded two out the three individuals in custody for 10 days, while third has been remanded for three days.
In a statement issued on Friday, the police shared their findings so far in the investigation conducted following information that certain Maldives Immigration employees were misusing their positions to exploit foreign workers.
The police said immigration officers from sections other than Maldives Immigration’s Task Force and Risk Management Section, which is typically responsible for identifying and detaining illegal migrants, abused their positional influence by conducting raids on premises where foreign workers resided, and arresting a large number of foreigners found in possession of large sums of cash.
According to the police, one foreigner who was found in possession of local currency equivalent to USD 34,3700 and taken to immigration detention was released from custody in the middle of the night. The release was allegedly on the orders of the then-Controller General, the police said.
Sham’aan was dismissed from the position of Immigration Controller earlier on Thursday, with former Commissioner of Police, Retired Ahmed Faseeh appointed in his place soon after.