The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has summoned former Controller of Immigration Shamaan Waheed, who is currently serving a life sentence, to clarify information regarding allegations of corruption he levelled against Home Minister Ali Ihusaan.
Adhadhu understands that Shamaan was brought before the ACC last Thursday at 10:00 am. He was summoned to provide details regarding a previous post he made on X, in which he accused Ihusaan of corrupt practices. However, the specific post in question remains unclear.
Shamaan was sentenced to 25 years in prison on June 9 after being found guilty of abuse of power and accepting bribes from a foreign national. Prior to attending the court hearing on that day, Shamaan had posted twice on X.
In those posts, Shamaan alleged that Ihusaan was involved in corruption related to the approval of quotas and work permits for foreign workers. Shamaan claimed that Ihusaan was taking MVR 8,000 per quota and USD 1,800 for every Bangladeshi national approved for entry.
"I informed the President that this was being done at a rate of MVR 8,000 per quota and USD 1,800 per approved Bangladeshi national, and I submitted the evidence to him. The response the President gave from Estonia was: 'I have received information that Shamaan is acting against Minister Ihusaan out of personal animosity,' Shamaan wrote in his post on June 9.
"Ihusaan does not do anything against the law or regulations. And I am certain he never will. If what I heard is the truth, I must say: this is not what being loyal means."
Shamaan further alleged that he was framed and prosecuted only after he brought these matters to Muizzu's attention.
However, the following morning, Ihusaan denied the allegations and instructed the Maldives Police Service to clarify the facts of the case to the public.
The police issued a statement asserting that the investigation into Shamaan was conducted independently and without any outside influence.
"The allegations that this investigation was pre-planned to achieve a specific outcome, that individuals were influenced to give statements, or that the findings were made under the direction of political or other parties are baseless and contrary to the facts," the police statement read.
Shamaan was dismissed from his post as Controller of Immigration on March 21, 2025, and was arrested by police the following day. He was initially remanded for 15 days before a court ordered him to be held in custody pending trial on April 6. Shamaan spent 278 days in detention before being released on December 25 last year.
Several others were also arrested in connection with the case, including immigration officers and a civilian. Some of those individuals entered into plea agreements with the state.
