The case against former Controller General of Immigration Shamaan Waheed and four Maldives Immigration staff members has been forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office) for prosecution.

The individuals are accused of extorting over MVR 500,000 from an expatriate in exchange for his release.

According to Maldives Police Service, the funds were allegedly taken after an expatriate detained by Immigration officers was released. It is claimed that the money was delivered to Shamaan's residence by Immigration staff involved in the operation.

A media official from the PG Office confirmed that the case, submitted on Monday, has been accepted. A decision on whether to file charges will be made within 15 days.

The case involves:

- Mohammed Alsan Ismail, 21, Th. Buruni

- Ibrahim Ahmed 37, Male'

- Ahmed Saheshan, 47, Male'

- Ahmed Lassaan 40, arrested later under a court order

Shamaan was arrested the night after the initial arrests when he appeared at the police station.

Police earlier said that the operation was conducted outside the purview of the Immigration Task Force and Risk Management teams; units officially tasked with identifying and detaining undocumented expatriates.

Instead, the suspects allegedly used their positions within other departments of the agency to carry out the illegal act.

Police stated that one of the expatriates, who was in possession of MVR 530,000 when detained, was released at midnight the following day on direct orders from then-Controller Shamaan. Police said that officers involved in the case met the expatriate on the street and later delivered the money to the building where Shamaan resided.