Police investigate witness statement leaks, calls them attempts to hinder investigation
The MPS said they believe the statements were leaked by some implicated in their investigation
Chief Superintendent of Police, Ahmed Shifan, who is also the Maldives Police Service\'s spokesperson
The Maldives Police Service on Tuesday confirmed that the witness statements leaked onto social media are legitimate state document pertaining to the investigation and trials against two Supreme Court justices and former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
While Superintendent of Police Ahmed Shifan, who is also the police’s spokesperson, had not explicitly stated that the documents belong to the police, he referred to them as the police’s documents.
Shifan further said during a press conference that they are investigating the matter as a serious case, and that the source of the leak will face heavy prosecution. Shifan also said that they currently believe the source to be someone implicated in the case.
The leaked statements include ones given from witnesses such as local judges, senior officers of the police, and civilians.
The state has raised charges against former president Maumoon, Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed, and Justice Ali Hameed for conspiring to overthrow the government and bribery. The trio is being charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The defendants are also facing additional charges of obstruction of justice.
