Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan has dismissed allegations made by former Controller General of Immigration Mohamed Shamaan Waheed that he was “framed,” describing the claims as baseless and unsupported by evidence.
The minister’s response came after the Criminal Court sentenced Shamaan to 25 years in prison yesterday, after finding him guilty on multiple charges, including money laundering, extortion and abuse of official authority.
Following the verdict, Shamaan publicly alleged that the case against him had been orchestrated by certain individuals acting on instructions from Minister Ihusan.
Responding to the accusations in a post on X, Ihusan said the former immigration chief continues to make serious allegations without presenting any evidence to substantiate his claims.
The minister noted that similar accusations had been raised previously and reiterated that he had already informed media outlets that the allegations were false.
According to Ihusan, evidence gathered during the police investigation contradicts claims that Shamaan was the victim of a politically motivated setup.
“The evidence obtained by the Maldives Police Service clearly shows that the allegations of being framed have no basis in reality,” the minister said.
In an effort to address public concerns and ensure transparency, Ihusan revealed that he has requested the Maldives Police Service to publicly explain how the investigation unfolded and provide additional details regarding the case.
The case against Shamaan has drawn significant public attention since his arrest, largely due to his former role as the head of the Maldives Immigration Department and the serious nature of the allegations.
On Tuesday, the Criminal Court handed Shamaan a combined prison sentence of 25 years. The sentence comprises 15 years for money laundering, eight years for extortion and two years for abuse of official authority.
The conviction marks one of the most high-profile corruption-related cases involving a senior state official in recent years.
While Shamaan has maintained that he is innocent and has alleged political motives behind the case, authorities have repeatedly stated that the investigation was conducted based on evidence gathered during the course of the inquiry.
The Maldives Police Service has yet to release further details regarding the minister’s request for a public explanation of the investigation.
The case continues to generate widespread discussion, with supporters of Shamaan questioning the circumstances surrounding the prosecution, while government officials maintain that the court’s verdict was based on evidence presented during legal proceedings.
