Shamaan appeals 25-year prison sentence at High Court
2 އޮކްޓޯބަރު 2026 | ހުކުރު 08:05The High Court has received an appeal from former Controller of Immigration Shamaan, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being convicted of robbery, money laundering, and abuse of power. While his family contends that the verdict was an act of political persecution, the lower court's ruling remains in effect, which includes a substantial fine and the forfeiture of assets to the state in addition to the lengthy custodial sentence.
Former Controller of Immigration Shamaan Waheed provides an interview to the media outside the Criminal Court on the day of his trial. | Raajje MV
The High Court has received an appeal challenging the Criminal Court's ruling against former Controller of Immigration Mohamed Shamaan Waheed, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of criminal charges.
Although Shamaan has appealed his convictions in the High Court, it remains unclear whether the court has officially accepted the cases for review.
Shamaan's 25-year prison sentence was issued on June 9, 2026.
The state has filed three charges against him. These include robbery, abuse of official authority, and money laundering.
The defendant was sentenced to eight years in prison on robbery charges. However, after deducting time already served in custody, the remaining sentence to be served is seven years, two months, and 20 days. Additionally, the court ordered the perpetrator to pay MVR 500,000 in restitution to the victim within a three-month period.
A two-year prison sentence has been handed down following a conviction for the misuse of official authority.
He has been sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of 500,000 Rufiyaa following a conviction on money laundering charges.
In this money laundering case, the state requested the forfeiture of MVR 250,000, which was seized by police from Shamaan's residence and is alleged to be part of the laundered funds. Additionally, the prosecution sought to recover the remaining MVR 150,000 from the total MVR 400,000 he was accused of possessing, by seizing an equivalent amount from the other cash confiscated during the police search. Consequently, the presiding judge granted the order for the forfeiture of these funds.
Furthermore, Shamaan's family previously asserted that his arrest was a politically motivated and personal vendetta, driven by fears that he would expose corruption allegations involving Home Minister Ali Ihusaan. In addition to the family's claims, several political figures have characterized the sentence handed down to Shamaan as unjust, disproportionate to the alleged offense, and politically influenced.
