Shamaan slapped with three charges, including money laundering

Three charges have been filed against former Controller General of Immigration, Mohamed Shamaan Waheed, including a money laundering charge.

The charges against Shamaan are related to an incident recorded at around 11:30pm on March 11, when he allegedly instructed Ibrahim Ahmed, Ahmed Lassaan, and Mohamed Alsan Ismail, who were working in the Controller's Bureau, to inspect the work of some expatriates in the Maldives without notifying the relevant department of the Maldives Immigration.

According to the Prosecutor General's Office (PG Office), the charges against Shamaan include abuse of official authority, participation in robbery as well as money laundering. In connection with the case, where an expatriate was allegedly released with MVR 530,000 on Shamaan's orders, the Maldives Police Service (MPS) has also searched Shamaan's residence. A large amount of cash and electronic equipment were confiscated from the house.

The charge sheet notes that Shamaan was aware of the raid conducted by these employees, that there was no official permission for the raid, and that it was carried out in violation of Maldives Immigration procedures.

Further, it was stated that on the night of the raid, after Maldives Immigration Risk Section employees arrived at the scene, a Bangladeshi citizen with MVR 530,000 was taken into Immigration custody from among the expatriates present. It is also alleged that a fake letter in the name of his sponsor was sent to the Immigration via email to release him from custody.

In addition to this, it has been claimed that after releasing the expatriate from custody, Shamaan had ordered him to hand over MVR 500,000 from the money he had. When he said he couldn't give the money, Shamaan allegedly ordered to forcibly take MVR 500,000 from him. The charges also state that the expatriate was threatened and ordered to leave the Maldives.

The charges mention that around 3am on March 13, the money was brought to Shamaan's residence, and MVR 400,000 was given to Shamaan. The charge sheet also highlighted that Shamaan used this money to pay for two student loans in his name, the very same day.

Previously, the police institution had sent cases to the Prosecutor General's Office requesting charges against four employees detained in connection with allegations of Maldives Immigration employees abusing their official authority to obtain undue benefits from expatriates, as well as against Shamaan. The case went filed at the PG Office on May 13.

Five suspects, including Shamaan, have been arrested in connection with the case. The five arrested individuals are Mohamed Shamaan Waheed, 36, Mohamed Alsan Ismail, 21 and native to Buruni island of Thaa atoll, Ibrahim Ahmed, 37, Hassan Saheshan, 47 and Ahmed Lassaan, 40.

In connection with the case, the police institution also seized the phone of Shamaan's spouse, Hidhfa Faiz, and banned two individuals from leaving the country.

Shamaan's family has since claimed that he was framed, alleging that the accusations against him came after he informed President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu in December 2024 about corruption activities involving Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan.

However, both President Muizzu and Minister Ihusaan have denied the allegations made by Shamaan's family.