Mayor Adam Azim has voiced his concern over police midnight raids, conducted with court warrants based solely on intelligence reports and has urged the police to maintain professionalism
Azim’s comments follow police raids on three residences early Friday morning, during which electronic equipment was seized. The raids are part of an investigation into alleged corruption involving the Road Development Corporation (RDC). Police claim they are searching for evidence related to the alleged transfer of funds from an RDC bank account to personal accounts. The investigation began over a year ago.
The RDC corruption case was filed with the police in September 2022. On 14 November 2023, police searched RDC offices to collect evidence. Nearly a year later, on Friday early morning, police raided the apartment of former RDC Managing Director Moosa Ali Manik (Mookey), his ex-wife’s apartment in Hulhumale’, and two properties belonging to former RDC Chief Financial Officer Yasir Hassan.
In a post on X last night, Mayor Azim did not directly reference any specific raid but is believed to be addressing Thursday night’s operations.
“When mothers and children are disturbed of their comfort at night by police conducting raids and disrupting families’ sleep, it creates great fear. I am disappointed to see such actions today,” Azim said.
He added that such incidents make people feel unsafe and insecure, recalling similar experiences in the past.
“Many families have been unjustly harmed by raids based on self-generated intelligence reports and fabricated evidence. The perpetrators of these serious crimes have yet to be brought to justice,” Azim said.
During former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration, the Mayor’s brother, Mohamed Nazim, then Defence Minister, had his home raided at midnight. A pistol was found, and he was sentenced to 11 years in prison for possession of a firearm. Many believe he was framed. Nazim, now a Member of Parliament, was imprisoned during his tenure as Defence Minister. His sentence was overturned, and he was released after the change in government in 2018.
“As someone who has personally endured such misfortune, I urge law enforcement agencies to act with professionalism. I remind the police force to refrain from using their powers as tools of revenge,” Azim said.
The raids on Mookey’s and Yasir’s properties come amid heightened public criticism of the government’s handling corruption cases.
