Criminal Court Judge Ibrahim Ihsaan on Tuesday said he would not allow the trial of former Immigration Controller Mohamed Sham'aan Waheed to become a “media circus.”  
The remark came after Sham'aan asked a witness whether Home Minister Ali Ihusaan had attempted to carry out illegal activities through immigration staff. The prosecution objected to the question, and Judge Ihsaan stopped it.  
Judge Ihsaan cautioned that the trial could not be used to send out messages or create headlines, warning Sham'aan that action would be taken if he attempted to do so.  
Sham'aan’s family has previously alleged that his arrest was politically motivated, claiming he was targeted for fear of exposing corruption cases involving Minister Ihusaan. They also alleged that Ihusaan sought to arrest Sham'aan because he believed Sham'aan possessed a video implicating him. The family did not specify the nature of the alleged video.  
Both Ihusaan and the police have denied the allegations.  
Sham'aan remains in custody pending trial. He has been charged with colluding with immigration officials to extort more than MVR 500,000 from a foreigner before releasing him from custody.