Police detail expat money trail; Lassan and Ibrahim Ahmed delivered funds to Shamaan’s residence
The case has since been forwarded to the Prosecutor General's Office for prosecution
At the press conference held by the police, they revealed how money was sent to Shamaan's house and who was involved
The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has revealed that a raid to obtain money from a foreign national was premeditated and carried out with the knowledge of former Controller General of Immigration Mohamed Shamaan Waheed. According to police, Ahmed Lassan and Ibrahim Ahmed who are both currently in custody, transported the money in a white bag to Shamaan’s apartment following the operation.
At a press conference held to provide updates regarding the case of Maldives Immigration employees allegedly obtaining illegal benefits from expatriates, Chief Inspector of Police Ahmed Azmath Abdulla said that information about Immigration employees acting against the institution's procedures was received on 20 March 2025. He said the case was registered and investigation commenced the same day. Azmath said that five suspects, including Shamaan, were arrested and detained in connection with the case.
He stated that numerous individuals have been questioned as part of the investigation and a substantial amount of CCTV footage has been reviewed. Azmath added that, under a court order, the suspects' phones have been seized, and evidence has been collected. Additional materials relevant to the case have also been obtained.
Azmath said it has been determined that the case is a premeditated criminal act. The investigation of the case was wrapped up and sent to the Prosecutor General's Office on May 11.
Azmath said that in the early hours of 12 March 2025, some Maldives Immigration employees conducted a raid operation targeting foreigners living in a residence in Maafannu. He said the raid operation was carried out against Immigration procedures and without completing the required documentation.
Azmath said the responsibility for conducting such operations lies with the employees included in the task force formed by the Risk Management Section and Enforcement and Compliance Division. He said special procedures need to be completed before conducting such an operation.
Azmath said the three employees who conducted the operation are Ibrahim Ahmed of G. Happyside and Ahmed Lassaan of M. Hazaari Villa, in capital Malé City, as well as Mohamed Alsan Ismail of Buruni island of Thaa atoll. He said these employees are not part of the task force formed by the Risk Management Section and Enforcement and Compliance Division.
Azmath said the investigation has so far revealed that the operation was conducted with Shamaan's knowledge and planned in advance. He said employees from the Risk Management Section attended the scene and sealed the expatriates’ belongings, including a large amount of cash seized from one expatriate.
Azmath stated that seven expatriates present at the location were taken to the Hulhumalé Detention Center under the supervision of Risk Management personnel. He added that a letter was submitted to the Immigration Department on behalf of the sponsor of the expatriate found in possession of a large sum of cash, requesting the individual's release.
Azmath highlighted that the investigation revealed Ibrahim Ahmed is the uncle of Hassan Saheshan. He further stated that the letter submitted in the sponsor’s name was not actually sent by the expatriate’s legitimate sponsor. As a result, investigators have concluded that the letter is fraudulent and was created without the sponsor’s knowledge.
Azmath explained that after driving around Malé, they proceeded to the area where the expatriate resides and stopped. At that point, the expatriate exited the vehicle. Azmath noted that it was clear the expatriate did not have the bag of money with him. After dropping off the expatriate, the car then drove to pick up Ibrahim Ahmed’s motorcycle near Star Cloud. Ahmed was dropped off there, and the car was subsequently parked in the designated parking area near the President's Office on Ameer Ahmed Magu.
He further emphasized that when the car was parked, Ibrahim Ahmed approached, opened the back seat, and retrieved the bag of money. He also mentioned that Lassan, one of the officers involved in the raid operation, then exited the vehicle.
Noting that two of them parked the motorcycle near M. Silver Line where Shamaan lives, Azmath went on to detail that they then entered the residence and went up to his apartment with the bag of money at around 3am. They are to have left the apartment approximately three minutes later.
The case has since been forwarded to the Prosecutor General's Office for prosecution. The PG Office will decide on prosecution within 15 days.
