Recently dismissed Immigration Controller Mohamed Shamaan Waheed was arrested on Friday night.

Shamaan and other immigration officers are under investigation for allegedly releasing a detained foreigner and extorting MVR 530,000 from him.

"The former Comptroller General of Immigration has been arrested tonight under a court order in connection with allegations that some employees of the Maldives Immigration are abusing their position and taking undue advantage of foreign workers," police said in a statement.

Shamaan was summoned to the police station earlier on Friday before his arrest later in the day.

In a statement ahead of his arrest, police said the residence of the foreign worker was searched by employees who were not involved in the designated immigration departments.

Police said the foreigner, who was in immigration custody, was released the next day along with the MVR 530,000 on Shamaan's orders.

The foreigner was released and the money was taken from him by immigration officials who searched his residence after meeting him on the street.

Police said the immigration officers took the money from the man and went to Shamaan's house.

Police did not disclose the amount of money seized from Shamaan's house during a raid on Thursday night but Adhadhu understands it was estimated at around MVR 500,000 in cash.

Three others have been arrested in the case. Among them was an employee working in Shamaan's bureau at Immigration.

Shamaan was dismissed on Thursday and former Police Commissioner Ahmed Faseeh has been appointed as the new Immigration Controller.