CP cannot deny political influence in MPS: ex-ACP

Former Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdullah Fairoosh has once again delivered criticism of the Maldives Police Service (MPS), over the level of political influence in the agency.

In a tweet posted on Saturday, ACP Fairoosh questioned whether if Commissioner of Police Areef ‘deny the prevalence of unwarranted political influence in policing’, adding that there was no way the CP can deny it.

ACP Fairoosh was dismissed after MPS Disciplinary Board reviewed a tweet he had posted, which they said defamed the Government. He was dismissed on the 24th October.

ACP Fairoosh has been on no-pay leave from December 2014 and currently lives in Australia where he is completing his higher studies.

Fairoosh served as Acting Commissioner of Police following the regime change on February 7,2012, until a new Commissioner of Police could be appointed. Prior to that he was serving as Chief Superintendent of Police. Following the appointment of a new Commissioner, Fairoosh was appointed as Assistant Commissioner of Police.

He was appointed as an Executive Officer at Home Minister in July 2014, mere months before he departed to Australia. The position was created especially for him, with Police stating that he will fill this position in his capacity as a Police officer.

Prior to this, he had served as the head of Police Service Development Directorate and head of Police Intelligence Directorate.

Fairoosh was one of the many senior officers of Police under investigation. Chief Superintendent Mohamed Riyaz had been dismissed from his position, citing close connections to the opposition, while Assistant Commissioner of Police Hussain Adam had been demoted.