National Awards Committee declared on Wednesday that Ahmed Hishan went through a meticulous vetting process prior to being awarded the prestigious National Award in 2014 for his humanitarian contributions to society.
At a press conference held at the President's Office, the committee's Chairperson Aneesa Ahmed stated that every candidate that applies for the National Awards are vetted and nominated after the committee ensures they do not have a criminal record.
According to Aneesa, the committee guaranteed that Hishan did not have a criminal record through Maldives Police Service and the courts as well.
She further stated that in addition to the police records, the committee interviews with relevant parties and persons before shortlisting recipients. She went on to say that the committee's policy on choosing the winning candidates are satisfactory, adding that Hishan's vetting process did not raise any concerns at the time.
Aneesa also noted that the awards policy lists the situations in which the National Award can be revoked but did not provide details on what these situations are.
Various allegations have been raised against Hishan on social media including paedophilia and child abuse. Some victims also shared their experiences online, and some have given official statements as well.
Recently, Hishan tweeted on multiple occasions that he was receiving threats, and expressed his wish to leave the country due to the warnings and intimidation.
Although Police stated that they were investigating these threats, authorities later revealed that Hishan refused to disclose any details about the threats such as his location at the time, or the perpetrators issuing them.
Hishan was appointed 'Disability Ambassador' on December 2019 by Vice President Faisal Naseem but was later revoked in light of the allegations. He is hailed by many as a hero for his efforts to improve the quality of life for those requiring financial and medical aid.
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