It has been revealed that no decision has been made regarding the dismissal of 13 officers of the Maldives Correctional Service suspected of smuggling phones, drugs, and other items into a prison complex, even after a year since the case made the spotlight.

This was revealed through information disclosed by Corrections to the Petition Committee of the People’s Majlis on Tuesday.

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan disclosed that a major investigation was underway regarding the smuggling of phones, drugs, and other items into prison in June 2023. 13 suspects were arrested in connection with the case.

On 22 August 2023, the Criminal Court was presented with charges against five individuals following an investigation conducted jointly by the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The investigation was regarding suspicions that Maldives Correctional Service employees, while in service, violated their legal duties, gained financial benefits from unauthorized activities in their jobs, and engaged in financial transactions incompatible with their positions. Last October, the state indicated no objection to releasing the charged Correctional employees on conditional bail in the case.

Referring to the case, MP for Vaikaradhoo constituency Hussain Ziyad inquired about the progress of the investigation. The lawmaker noted that the news of the arrest of 13 Correctional officers had tarnished the reputation of all Correctional employees. He also questioned whether Corrections was not concerned about the delay in the investigation.

In response to this Deputy Commissioner of Prisons Ibrahim Mohamed Didi said he couldn't comment on the police investigation. However, he stated that Corrections would conduct its own investigation regardless of the police investigation.

PG Office filed charges against five officers at the Criminal Court on 22 August 2024.

Earlier, one of the suspects, Jinah Abdul Raheem, native to Ungoofaaru island of Raa atoll, was slapped with three charges, one charge comes under Section 513 of the Penal Code, for misuse of official authority to obtain benefits. The second charge comes under Section 53(a) of the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Act and Section 3 of Section 5(a) with Section 53(b) and Section 62(a) read with Section 3, for money laundering. The third charge comes under Section 515 of the Penal Code for illicit enrichment.

Ali Hisham, native to Maafushi island of Kaafu atoll was slapped with three charges as well including misuse of official authority to obtain benefits under Section 513 of the Penal Code, money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Act and illicit enrichment as clarified under Section 515 of the Penal Code.

Nazim, Fathooh and Ashfag face two charges; misuse of official authority to obtain benefits under Section 513 of the Penal Code and illicit enrichment as clarified under Section 515 of the Penal Code.

MPS on 10 August 2024 wrapped up the investigations into 13 of the officers involved in the racket and forwarded their findings to the PG Office seeking charges.

PG Office in October 2024 revealed that the state had decided to enter a plea deal with three suspects; Ali Nazim, 36 and native to Neykurendhoo island of Haa Dhaal atoll, Mohamed Fathooh Fathuhulla, 24 and native to Villingili island of Gaaf Alif atoll and Ali Ashfag, 32 and native to Landhoo island of Noonu atoll.

According to criminal procedure, the state can request the court to reduce the sentence to no less than the minimum penalty prescribed by law for that offense under a plea deal. The PG Office went on to reveal that charges will still be pressed even if a plea deal is reached and that the case will be proven, and the suspects will be sentenced.

In a previous remand hearing at the Criminal Court, the defense noted that Zayan, one of the defendants, had been released after appealing his detention to the High Court. The defense lawyer highlighted that his release was granted when he was brought to the Criminal Court instead of the Maafushi Court. Therefore, the defense requested the release of their other clients as well until the trial concludes.

In the hearing, the state also agreed to change the detention order and release them until the trial concludes. However, the state requested their release with conditions. The state also requested an order to withhold their passports, citing the risk of them fleeing the country.

The conditions requested by the state included ensuring their attendance at court hearings and not obstructing the trial process.

MPS revealed that they uncovered a case of smuggling phones and drugs into prison complexes in late June 2024.

Minister Ihusaan, who has been entrusted with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the police institution, stated that efforts were being made to resolve the issue, as phones and drugs are repeatedly being discovered inside prisons.

Ihusaan added that findings so far indicate that 18 Correctional employees had unusually large amounts of money deposited in their accounts, with around MVR 24 million deposited to some of their accounts.

Up to MVR 73 million was deposited in the accounts of the 18 employees on multiple occasions.

Several employees of the Maldives Correctional Service have been arrested in connection with the case.

Arrested were nine officers from Maafushi Prison, two officers arrested from Kaashidhoo island of Kaafu atoll and one each from Malé and Utheem island of Haa Alif atoll.

MPS earlier revealed that two individuals were remanded for a period of five days and the remaining 11 officers were remanded pending the end of their trials. Minister Ihusaan stated that anyone working in a uniformed institution being sold for money “will not be tolerated”.

MPS gave assurance that the case would be thoroughly probed, and the perpetrators would be brought before justice.