The family of former Controller General of Immigration Mohamed Shamaan Waheed, has alleged that his sudden dismissal was not a coincidence, and Shamaan was arrested within 24 hours of an expatriate associated with Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan being brought under the custody of Maldives Immigration.

Shamaan’s family issued a statement on Wednesday evening.

The family’s statement reads that when said expatriate was taken into Immigration custody, Minister Ihusaan phoned Shamaan and instructed him to hand over the foreigner's phone to a specific police officer of the Maldives Police Service.

However, Shamaan responded that the request could only be processed through an official note. According to the statement, upon hearing this, the home minister allegedly raised his voice and abruptly ended the call.

Shamaan’s family claims he was arrested and remanded until the end of the trial based on false accusations and fabricated, invalid evidence. They went on to allege that the actions were motivated by Ihusaan’s personal and political animosity toward Shamaan.