The reversal of a decision to fire Senior Sergeant Hassan Shujau, over his arrest with drugs, to demote his rank instead has prompted concern within the police.
Shujau's job responsibilities included handling confiscated drugs. The police disciplinary board recommended Shujau's dismissal after his case was investigated by the professional standards command and forwarded to the board.
However, after Shujau appealed the decision, the appeals committee decided to keep him in the job with a demotion of rank.
"People who commit crimes working in the police service or being a part of this system is not what the police want. The police have been doing the work of reforming such problems within this service as a big priority," Chief Superintendent of Police Ahmed Shifan told Adhadhu, expressing concern with the appeals committee's decision.
Shujau was arrested with drugs together with a woman on November 10, 2022 as the police searched a Hiya tower apartment with a court order. The police found 18 cellophane pieces containing drugs and a bottle of alcohol from the apartment.
During the search, MVR 7,010 was found inside Shujau's pocket and MVR 181,540 was found from the apartment. Shujau's clothes and police uniform were in a wardrobe.
The police also searched Shujau's official apartment of residence. More suspects in the case were inside the apartment when the police arrived and 14 drug packets and an alcohol bottle were seized.
After the investigation, the police forwarded the case to the Prosecutor General’s (PG) office on January 9, 2023.
The PG office formally pressed charges against Shujau on January 17, 2023. He was charged with possession of drugs and drug abuse.
"This is not an ordinary allegation. The appeal board deciding to bring back to the service a police officer facing such an allegation while the trial over the criminal offense is ongoing brings the whole institution into disrepute. We are extremely concerned over that," a senior police officer said.
After the disciplinary board decided to dismiss Shujau over the case on February 21, 2023, the appeals committee overturned the decision and decided to demote his rank.
The police enforced the decision on December 7 after the change in government.
The appeals committee that sparked concern within the police with its decision was comprised of former Deputy Police Commissioner Mohamed Sodiq, Azmeen Rasheed, Minna Nafiz and Ahmed Shihad.
The appeals committee was constituted by the Home Minister. The current committee was formed during former Home Minister Imran Abdulla's tenure.
