Former Controller General of Immigration, Mohamed Shamaan Waheed, has filed an appeal in the High Court challenging the Criminal Court's order to keep him in custody. According to the High Court registry, Shamaan lodged the appeal yesterday after being remanded for 15 days on allegations of abusing his official position and unlawfully benefiting from migrant workers. His arrest took place on 23 March after he voluntarily appeared before the police to give a statement.
Shamaan's arrest is part of a broader investigation involving multiple immigration officials. Alongside him, three other immigration employees were also taken into custody. While two were remanded for 10 days, another was held for three days. The investigation escalated after a police raid on Shamaan’s residence on 20 March, during which authorities seized electronic devices and a substantial amount of cash.
The police have alleged that certain immigration officials were abusing their positions to exploit migrant workers. Reports suggest that some employees, particularly those in the task force and risk management sections, were not performing their official duties but instead targeting migrant residences. According to the police statement, officials allegedly conducted raids on migrant workers' homes and detained them, taking large sums of cash in the process. A foreign national, detained with MVR 530,000, was reportedly released early the next morning on the orders of Shamaan, who was in office until March 2025. Investigators found that immigration officers later tracked down the released foreigner, recovered some cash, and took it to the building where Shamaan was staying.
Following a court order, five individuals were stopped and searched, leading to the seizure of electronic devices. The police also searched Shamaan’s residence, confiscating large amounts of cash and additional electronic items as part of their ongoing investigation. With the case now before the High Court, the final decision on Shamaan's detention and further legal proceedings remains pending.
