Two SO officers transferred back to jail based on intel report

Less than two days after transferring the eight officers of the police Special Operations (SO) unit to house arrest, two of them have been transferred back to prison and remanded by 15 days.

Their attorney Safa Shareef told RaajjeMV that they received a notice on Wednesday night, informing that that former SO Commander, Inspector Saif Hussain and former station Inspector Faiz Mohamed were to be presented to the Criminal Court at 9:30am on Thursday.

Safa said that the court had, at Thursday’s hearing, said that the police have received an intelligence report that the two still continue to do work related to the accusations against them; all eight officers are accused of conspiring to overthrow the government.

Noting that Saif and Faiz were transferred back to jail based on an intel report, lawyer Safa said she had been informed of it by a state attorney. However, Safa said that while the report states that the two officers are involved in operations potentially dangerous to society, it does not specify why they must be transferred back to prison or what these operations are.

The officers have been in custody since February 26, and were transferred to house arrest on 24th April, with stipulations. This includes, ‘not to use any technologies to communicate with anyone’, as well as to inform the court if there are any changes to his place of residence. The court had told them that if any of the conditions are violated, they ‘will be transferred back to prison immediately’.

While they have been transferred to house arrest for a 30-day period, the court also informed the police to present them to court after the period expires, to determine whether their remand should be extended.

While they were kept detained at Maafushi Prison, earlier in April there were reports of their heads been shaven without their consent. However, Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) said that this was done ‘as per regulation’.

The eight arrested officers include; former SO Commander, Inspector if Police Saif Hussain; Station Inspector Faiz Mohamed; former SWAT team member, Sergeant Abdulla Riyaz; Corporal Ali Naseer; Corporal Hassan Naseer; Corporal Mohamed Shameen; Sergeant Ahmed Asim; and Sergeant Mohamed Rishwan.

Since their arrest, the officers have been dismissed from their duties. According to the dismissal notice, they are accused of conspiring with some individuals, to overthrow the government.

Former Police Commissioner Ahmed Areef has also been arrested under the same allegation, and has been accused of terrorism. He has since been dismissed from the post as well.