Cannot Accept How Dr. Fairoosh Retired: 241 Committee

The Parliamentary Committee on National Security (241 Committee) has stated that the Home Ministry has not adequately investigated the issue of former Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr. Abdulla Fairoosh’s retirement, and that the proceedings of the investigation are unacceptable.

The 241 Committee investigated Fairoosh’s retirement once the issue was presented by the former President and incumbent Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed. The matter was presented after the Police Act was passed and ratified as Speaker Nasheed believed that a police officer cannot retire in any way that is not dictated by law.

Although the committee’s report stated that the issue was not adequately investigated, the 241 Committee has not decided to launch a reinvestigation. The committee decided that if an officer facing allegations such as Dr. Fairoosh wishes for an honorable discharge, police must be informed to consider the allegations. The committee has also called for the formation of strong policies and guidelines to prevent the repetition of such an incident.

The Police Act was ratified on December 27, 2020. The law dictates that it will come into effect three months after it is published in the Gazette. Dr. Fairoosh retired on January 2, before the Act came into effect on March 27, 2021.

The report dictates that the Home Ministry stated no issues were reported to police regarding Fairoosh’s retirement. However, it read that public information related to the former ACP has led the committee to believe the matter of his retirement was not adequately investigated.

The committee concluded its investigation into the honorable discharge of Dr. Fairoosh for the parliament to decide on an appropriate outcome.