Shumba files case against Yameen gov't officials, over "kidnapping" case

Social media activist Ahmed “Shumba Gong” Ashraf has filed a case at the police, seeking charges against officials of the previous administration over his transfer from Sri Lanka.

Ashraf was arrested in Sri Lanka on November 1 and extradited to the Maldives the next day. He was among eight associates of former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb wanted in connection with the speedboat blast.

His extradition was met with immense criticism, with the Sri Lankan foreign ministry saying that the Maldivian authorities had provided “inaccurate information” in the case. The Maldives ambassador was also summoned to the ministry over the matter.

In a letter addressed to Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed, requesting to investigate the “kidnapping” case, Ashraf said that he was taken from a house in Sri Lanka on 1st November 2015 while there on a valid visa. Noting that this was done by individuals with their faces covered, Ashraf highlighted that they were armed and accompanied by officers of the Maldives Police Service (MPS).

He further noted that he was transferred to the Maldives embassy “at gun point.”

Hence, he asked for charges to be raised against all officials that were involved in the operation.

Ashraf had included the names of these officials in the letter. They are; then-Home Minister Umar Naseer, then-Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon, then-Ambassador Zahiya Zareer, then-First Secretary Hassan Adam, then-Colonel at the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Ahmed Giyas, then-Police Commissioner Ahmed Arif and assistant Abdulla Nawaz.

While Ashraf was arrested in November 2015, he was transferred to house arrest 14 months later. He was freed in December 2018.

At a press conference held on Thursday, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih highlighted the unlawful manner in which Ashraf was “snatched” while in Sri Lanka. He highlighted that it was done without the required approval from the Sri Lankan authorities.