Police launches criminal investigation against ex-deputy PG

Maldives Police Service has launched an investigation against former deputy prosecutor general Hussain Shameem, for accusing the police of "producing evidence".

The police made the announcement at a press conference on Monday evening, where they also revealed that the cases against those that had attempted to overthrow the government will be forwarded to the Prosecutor General's Office "this week".

Speaking at the conference, police media officer Ahmed Shifan said that it is "saddening" to see such degrading acts from some attorneys.

We especially note that Hussain Shameem [a defence attorney of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom], who worked in the case, had, at 08:58 pm on the 13th of February. spoken to media about the validity of the evidence collected for an ongoing police investigation, having said that the police have produced evidence and spread false information on the police's work in a way that questions police integrity. Shameem has also made it difficult for us to carry out our work constitutionally. He has tried to restrict us from doing our work" Shifan had said.

Noting that such issues are seen as criminal offenses by the police, Shifan said that they have launched an investigation into the matter.

Police have called on lawyers to make sure their actions are within legal ambit.