Hearings commence in case against ex-Immigration Controller Shamman

Criminal Court has today commenced hearings in the case where former Controller of Maldives Immigration Mohamed Shamman Waheed and a number of Immigration officers are accused of extorting money from a foreigner in detention in exchange for his release.

Shamman has three charges raised against him: participation in extortion, abuse of an official position and money laundering.

Others charged in the case are Immigration officers Ibrahim Ahmed, G. Happy Side, Mohamed Alsan Ismail, Moonimaage, Th. Buruni and Ahmed Lassaan, M. Hazaaree Villa.

Today's hearings were of Shamman and Alsan's case. Ibrahim Ahmed and Lassaan's cases are to be heard separately.

The court said today that Lassaan's hearings are being held separately as he has entered a plea bargain with the prosecution. Reasons for Ibrahim Ahmed's case being held separately were not disclosed.

The hearing did not go ahead today, as the defence claimed they had not received the case files. A new date has been scheduled to formally announce the charges and provide the defence an opportunity to respond.

Prosecutor General's Office has said that Shamman is being charged for instructing the release of an expatriate taken into detention by Immigration's Risk Section, and to take MVR 500,000 which was on him at the time of detention.

The money was taken from the expatriate after he was threatened of potential Immigration consequences should he fail to leave the country willingly, according to the PG Office.

After the money was extorted from the expatriate, it was taken to Shamman's residence at around 3pm on March 13, 2025. Shamaan then accepted MVR 400,000 from it, the PG Office said.

On this same day, Shamman had used this money to repay two student loans in his name. He deposited MVR 149,491.46 to a loan account at Bank of Maldives, and another MVR 110,345.59 to another loan account, as per the PG Office.