High Court rejects Shamman’s remand appeal

High Court has rejected former Controller General of Immigration, Mohamed Shamman Waheed’s appeal of his remand.

Criminal Court remanded him in custody for 15 days on Saturday, shortly after he was arrested upon arrival at Sergeant Adam Haleem Criminal Investigation Building to provide statement in connection to the allegations against him. According to Maldives Police Service, Shamman was arrested on charges of corruption, abuse of power and coercion for illicit profiteering from expatriates.

High Court decided to reject his appeal on Friday.

Police said it had collected plausible evidence to reasonably prove Shamman’s offenses, and noted that the over half million in Maldivian currency discovered in the former Controller General’s home was misappropriated from an expatriate released from Immigration’s detention on his order.

Authorities had reportedly recovered more than MVR 530,000 in physical cash from Shamman’s home. Besides the money, several electronic items were brought under police custody during the authority’s raid of Shamman’s home under a court order.

Several other officers from Maldives Immigration are suspected of involvement as well.

Additional suspects arrested in the case:

• Mohamed Alsan Ismail 21, Moonimaage, Th. Buruni
• Ibrahim Ahmed, 37, G. Happy Side, Male’
• Hassan Saheshan, 47, G. Happy Side, Male’
• Ahmed Lassan, 40, M. Hazaaree Villa, Male’