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Expats marry locals to carry out criminal activities in Maldives

Mohamed Rehan
23 February 2022, MVT 20:10
Judiciary Committee of Maldives Parliament held on Wednesday where the deputy chief of Maldives Immigration highlighted on marriage abuse by expatriates -- Photo: People's Majlis
Mohamed Rehan
23 February 2022, MVT 20:10

Maldives Immigration divulges alarming concerns over expatriates purporting marriage with locals, to reside in the island nation for criminal conduct.

The concerns were brought forward in front of the parliamentary committee.

During a meeting held among senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maldives Immigration, Ministry of Economic Development, organized by the Judiciary Committee of the parliament, the Deputy Chief of Maldives Immigration Mr. Mohamed Shifan had highlighted on criminal conduct of expatriates holding marriage visas.

Moreover, Mr. Shifan had highlighted attempts made by locals to repatriate the foreigners back to the Maldives - while most of these expatriates are blacklisted individuals by the Maldivian authorities.

The Deputy Chief of Maldives Immigration further noted that such attempts have been made by spouses of these blacklisted expatriates.

Speaking on the matter, Mr. Shifan had also claimed that several expatriates enter into 'marriage of convenience' with locals; for duplicitous reasons. Most expatriates use this as a gateway to enter the Maldives to expand upon their criminal activities such as prostitution, black-market currency exchanging, and several other illegal gambits.

He noted that a total of 11 expatriates were deported upon confirming all of them were involved in illegal foreign exchange rackets, while a total of 46 foreigners found guilty of prostitution were sent back home during the previous year.

"The local courts request from us to run background checks on these expatriates when locals proceed to file marriage requests. Even though there have been instances where we have rejected individuals post background checks, the courts still proceed to marry them since it is a basic right," Mr. Shifan added.

Moreover, as per the deputy chief, there were several situations where locals have lodged complaints at the Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) once they have deported expatriates found culpable of various criminal offenses, in order to repatriate them back to the Maldives.

In most of these situations, the expatriates and their local spouses have children.

The deputy chief further highlighted that most of the blacklisted or deported expatriates do not provide child support to their children back in the Maldives.

While addressing the issue, Mr. Shifan had further stressed the challenges faced by authorities to press charges against these individuals in light of limited powers provided through the law. Moreover, he also noted the lack of evidence to prove the culpability of a criminal offense in most instances.

In his discourse, Mr. Shifan emphasized the repetitive nature of such incidents in the Maldives.

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