High Court Accepts Appeal Over Ex-Immigration Chief Shamaan’s Detention Order

The High Court has accepted an appeal challenging the Criminal Court’s 15-day remand order against former Immigration Controller Mohamed Shamaan Waheed, who was arrested over allegations of abuse of power and accepting a bribe of over MVR 500,000.

Shamaan was taken into custody in connection with a case involving the release of a foreign national from Immigration detention, allegedly in exchange for money. Authorities suspect that the funds were collected by several Immigration staff members and later delivered to Shamaan's residence. He was dismissed from his position on March 20 following the arrest.

Although the High Court Registrar initially declined to hear the appeal, stating it could not proceed, the decision was later reviewed by a three-judge panel. The panel unanimously overruled the Registrar, concluding that there was a substantive legal issue at stake, warranting judicial review.

The original 15-day detention order has since expired, and Shamaan was recently brought before the Criminal Court, which ruled to remand him until the conclusion of the trial.

According to the Maldives Police Service, the case centers around a foreigner who was arrested during an Immigration operation at a guesthouse. After being released, the individual reportedly met three Immigration staff members on the street, during which the bribe money was collected.

In addition to Shamaan, four others have been arrested in connection with the case. Authorities have also imposed travel bans on certain individuals and have confiscated the phone of Shamaan’s wife through a court order as part of the ongoing investigation.