Public Accounts Committee approves suspension of senior officers, including CP Naveen

The Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament has on Wednesday approved the recommendation to suspend senior police officers, including Commissioner of Police Ismail Naveen.  

The decision comes following deliberations within the committee, which reviewed the recommendation for disciplinary action against senior members of the Maldives Police Service.  

The Public Accounts Committee held its meeting behind closed doors, where members decided to recommend the suspension of senior police officers, including Commissioner Ismail Naveen.  

It is understood that the recommendation is based on allegations that the officers violated professional standards of the Maldives Police Service.  

The meeting was convened to discuss the report of the PAC Sub-Committee on the Special Audit Report of the Blues Housing Project. The motion to hold the meeting in secret was proposed by PNC MP Mohamed Mamdooh and seconded by PNC MP Hannan Mohamed Rasheed, before being unanimously passed by members present.  

The committee has recommended the suspension of seven senior officers:  

• Commissioner of Police Ismail Naveen  

• Assistant Commissioner Musa Ali  

• Assistant Commissioner Ahmed Abdul Rahman  

• Assistant Commissioner Mohamed Rasheed  

• Assistant Commissioner Mohamed Basheer  

• Assistant Commissioner Mohamed Dawood  

• Superintendent Ismail Shamim Adam  

Assistant Commissioner Dawood had previously been accused in the committee. Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim alleged at a sub-committee meeting last month that between 2023 and 2024, large sums of money entered Dawood’s account, resulting in assets worth MVR 14.6 million. Dawood has denied the allegations, claiming the Professional Standards Command is attempting to frame him.  

Dawood was serving as head of Hulhumale’ police when the case surfaced but was removed from the post on November 1. He was replaced by Assistant Commissioner Ahmed Mohamed, known as “TwoFour.”  

The PAC’s recommendation marks a significant escalation in the fallout from the Blues Housing Project audit, with disciplinary action now looming over the top ranks of the Maldives Police Service.