Former Controller General of Immigration Mohamed Shamaan Waheed has been remanded in custody until the conclusion of his trial, following his arrest in a high-profile corruption investigation involving alleged extortion of expatriate workers.
Shamaan, 36, was dismissed from his post on 20 March, just four months after his appointment by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. He was arrested the following day after arriving at the Sergeant Adam Haleem Criminal Investigation Building for questioning. His initial 15-day remand expired on Sunday, when the Criminal Court ordered that he remain in custody for the duration of legal proceedings.
The case revolves around a raid carried out by officers from the Department of Immigration on a migrant accommodation building in Malé, during which seven expatriates—none found to be in breach of immigration rules—were detained. Large sums of cash were seized, including MVR 530,000 held by one of the expatriates.
Police allege that the raid was not conducted by officers formally tasked with identifying and detaining irregular migrants. Instead, investigators believe three Immigration officers used their positions to target the building for personal gain.
According to police, the expatriate carrying MVR 530,000 was released from custody the following night and escorted to the Immigration office at M. Star Cloud. CCTV footage and witness accounts suggest the cash was returned to him and then transferred in a bag to Shamaan’s residence by the same officers involved in the raid.
The police allege that the officers met the expatriate on the street, collected the money, and entered Shamaan’s residence. CCTV footage reportedly shows the bag visibly full upon entry, but crumpled into a fist upon exit—suggesting the money had been removed inside.
Investigators have arrested four other Immigration officers in connection with the case: Mohamed Alsan Ismail, 21, of Th. Buruni; Ibrahim Ahmed, 37; Hassan Saheshan, 47; and Ahmed Lassaan, 40—all residents of Malé. Electronic devices and substantial amounts of cash in multiple currencies were also recovered during a raid of Shamaan’s home.
The police further confirmed that the mobile phone of Shamaan’s wife, Hidfa Faiz, was confiscated during the investigation, alongside the passports of two unidentified individuals.
Shamaan had previously served at Maldives Immigration for 14 years before being dismissed during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. His return to the top post in November last year was seen as part of President Muizzu’s efforts to crack down on illegal migration.
His sudden dismissal and the subsequent investigation have drawn significant attention, given his recent praise for stepping up enforcement efforts. He was promptly replaced by former Commissioner of Police Ahmed Faseeh.
