President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said that the political influence which was rampant in the police service when he came to power has now been completely removed.
Speaking at a campaign gathering in Meemu Kolhufushi, Solih called on the people to remember the extent of political influence over institutions from 2013 to 2018 before he came to power.
“If you take a look at just the police force, the police commissioner changed five times. A commissioner for each year of the administration. How can an institution operate that way?" he said.
Solih said the police were educated and trained but they did not have the opportunity to operate independently during the government of former President Abdulla Yameen.
"Today, you will not see that in the police service," Solih claimed, speaking on the home island of Home Minister Imran Abdulla.
Imran is the leader ofAdhaalath Party (AP) which is in the governing coalition and has also backed Solih for re-election.
Abdulla Riyaz was the first police commissioner during the former government. Following his resignation, Hussein Waheed was appointed to the post.
Waheed was later fired and his assistant Ahmed Areef was appointed as the commissioner. Areef was removed in 2018 and Ahmed Saudee was appointed.
Saudee was also removed and Abdulla Nawaz was appointed as acting commissioner of police.
Mohamed Hameed was appointed as the police commissioner after Solih came to power. He is the longest-serving commissioner and had been in the post for the past four and a half years.
