The Police Service have launched an investigation into Assistant Commissioner of Police Ahmed Shifan for allegedly ordering the inclusion of two uninvolved senior officers' names in a statement regarding the theft of cigarettes from the Duty Free shop at Velana International Airport (VIA).
Adhadhu understands that the case is being investigated by the Professional Standards Command (PSC). When contacted for an official comment on the matter, the police did not provide a response. Shifan is the Spokesperson for the Maldives Police Service.
The incident involving the unauthorized removal of 140 cartons of cigarettes from the VIA departure hall surfaced on March 25 last year. The case was reported to the police by the Maldives Customs Service.
Sources informed Adhadhu that a police officer was behind the attempt to smuggle the cigarettes. It is understood that the officer attempted to move the cigarettes in black bags with the assistance of the Duty Free janitorial staff.
As the case involved a police officer, the PSC conducted an investigation at the time. During the probe, Shifan allegedly requested that the names of two senior officers—who had no connection to the crime—be included in the statement of the officer accused of smuggling the cigarettes.
However, the lawyer representing the accused officer refused to include the names of the two senior officers as requested by Shifan. Sources told Adhadhu that it was the lawyer who informed the PSC about Shifan’s attempt to implicate the two officers in the statement.
While the PSC investigates Shifan for allegedly attempting to frame senior colleagues, a group of senior police officers acting as whistleblowers sent a letter to Parliament last November, with serious allegations against him.
The allegations against Shifan include misconduct and abuse of power. However, Parliament has yet to investigate the allegations.
Shifan, who recently applied for the position of Commissioner of Police, was appointed as the police Spokesperson on February 18, 2024. He previously served in the same capacity during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen.
