Officers involved in prison drug smuggling: plea deal being reached with some officers

The state has decided to enter a plea deal with some of the Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) officers who were arrested and remanded under accusations of being involved in smuggling drugs and mobile phones into prisons.

The Prosecutor General's Office (PG Office) revealed that a joint investigation was conducted by the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in accordance with the law, into allegations pinned on the corrections officers for violating their duties, gaining undue benefits and making money transactions that do not align with their job criteria, as per the law.

PG Office filed charges against five officers at the Criminal Court on 22 August 2024.

Sharing the latest updates regarding the case, PG Office highlighted that the state has decided to enter a plea deal with three suspects; Ali Nazim, 36 and native to Neykurendhoo island of Haa Dhaal atoll, Mohamed Fathooh Fathuhulla, 24 and native to Villingili island of Gaaf Alif atoll and Ali Ashfag, 32 and native to Landhoo island of Noonu atoll.

According to criminal procedure, the state can request the court to reduce the sentence to no less than the minimum penalty prescribed by law for that offense under a plea deal.

The PG Office went on to reveal that charges will still be pressed even if a plea deal is reached and that the case will be proven, and the suspects will be sentenced.

Further, PG Office noted that charges have not been filed against other suspects implicated in the case this time, due to insufficient evidence. However, as the investigation is still proceeding, decisions will be made regarding charges against additional suspects as the findings unfold.

PG Office revealed that entering a plea deal with those who confess during the investigation and wish to make an agreement is a legal opportunity.

Earlier, one of the suspects, Jinah Abdul Raheem, native to Ungoofaaru island of Raa atoll, was slapped with three charges, one charge comes under Section 513 of the Penal Code, for misuse of official authority to obtain benefits. The second charge comes under Section 53(a) of the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Act and Section 3 of Section 5(a) with Section 53(b) and Section 62(a) read with Section 3, for money laundering. The third charge comes under Section 515 of the Penal Code for illicit enrichment.

Ali Hisham, native to Maafushi island of Kaafu atoll was slapped with three charges as well including misuse of official authority to obtain benefits under Section 513 of the Penal Code, money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Act and illicit enrichment as clarified under Section 515 of the Penal Code.

Nazim, Fathooh and Ashfag face two charges; misuse of official authority to obtain benefits under Section 513 of the Penal Code and illicit enrichment as clarified under Section 515 of the Penal Code.

MPS on 10 August 2024 wrapped up the investigations into 13 of the officers involved in the racket and forwarded their findings to the PG Office seeking charges.

In late June, MPS revealed that they uncovered a case of smuggling phones and drugs into prison complexes.

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan, who has been entrusted with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the police institution, stated that efforts were being made to resolve the issue, as phones and drugs are repeatedly being discovered inside prisons.

Ihusaan added that findings so far indicate that 18 correctional employees had unusually large amounts of money deposited in their accounts, with around MVR 24 million deposited to some of their accounts.

Up to MVR 73 million was deposited in the accounts of the 18 employees on multiple occasions.

Several employees of the Maldives Correctional Service have been arrested in connection with the case.

Arrested were nine officers from Maafushi Prison, two officers arrested from Kaashidhoo island of Kaafu atoll and one each from Malé and Utheem island of Haa Alif atoll.

MPS earlier revealed that two individuals were remanded for a period of five days and the remaining 11 officers were remanded pending the end of their trials.

Minister Ihusaan stated that anyone working in a uniformed institution being sold for money will not be tolerated.

MPS gave assurance that the case would be thoroughly probed, and the perpetrators would be brought before justice.