Police deny arrest of 'some senior officers'

Maldives Police Service (MPS) has denied reports of its senior officers being arrested on Saturday.

In a tweet posted late Saturday night, MPS said to disregard reports that some of its senior officers were arrested earlier in the day, calling it “false”.

The tweet comes hours after reports surfaced that acting Commissioner of Police, Abdulla Nawaz and Malé Area Commander, Ismail Naveen were taken into custody on Saturday evening. Not long after the tweet, RaajjeMV journalists saw recently appointed Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ismail Hamdhoon boarding a police vessel, and headed in the direction of Dhoonidhoo island, where its detention centre is located.

Nawaz is the third officer to be appointed to head the institution, following the controversial Supreme Court ruling on 1st February, releasing high-profile political prisoners and reinstating opposition parliamentarians dismissed by the Elections Commission. Then Commissioner Ahmed Areef was dismissed hours after the ruling, with claims that he had failed to respond to the President’s call. He was replaced by his deputy, Ahmed Saudhee, who was dismissed two days later. Nawaz replaced him.

Areef has since been arrested and is being accused of conspiring to overthrow the government. He claims that he was dismissed for working to implement the ruling issued by the Supreme Court.