'Antagonizing police officers unacceptable' says MP Nihan

The pro-government faction of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has condemned Villa Group’s decision to reveal identities of officers involved in this month’s controversial raids on their resorts.

Leaders of the party spoke at a press conference held on Wednesday afternoon, where the party’s parliamentary group leader Ahmed Nihan had expressed concern over the matter.

“The police are carrying out their legally mandated duty, they are just following orders. Publicizing their names and antagonizing them publicly poses a threat to their lives” Nihan said.

Nihan further equated the act to psychological harassment of police officers and said that the authority of the Maldives Police Service ‘must be respected’.

Answering questions from journalists Nihan also said that the government is heavily leaning on the Police Integrity Commission to ensure that pending cases on the officers are cleared.

There have been several such notable cases filed with the commission, which acts as an oversight body for the conduct of officers, which primarily involved police brutality and assault.

Police have also condemned the release of names, which the Villa Group’s legal representatives had done through a statement calling on the commission to investigate the matter.

Villa Group has alleged that the raids were unlawful and officers that were involved in them had not adhered to the court warrant granted to them.

The company defended their stand to say that the matter had become one of national interest and it is therefore the Villa Group’s obligation to report.

Officers began their series of raids on a total of five resorts operated by the Villa Group last Wednesday, claiming that the liquor license issued to one of their resorts had ‘unlawfully’ supplied alcoholic beverages to others.