Man denying police oath charged with drug trafficking

The man who claimed he did not take the police constabulary oath, despite attending the swearing-in ceremony, has now been charged with drug trafficking.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine ranging from MVR 100,000 to MVR 10 million.

Mohamed Sajidh, the suspect, was arrested near his home in GDh. Thinadhoo after drugs were found hidden under the seat of his motorcycle. During the initial hearing at the High Court, Sajidh stated that he did not take the police oath out of fear.

He was initially arrested following intelligence reports suggesting he was involved in an illegal tobacco business. However, during a police raid, approximately 192 grams of drugs were discovered on his motorcycle, police said in court.

Despite this, the Thinadhoo court did not order his remand in custody, noting that the police had not searched his house under a warrant related to criminal charges.

When the prosecution appealed to the High Court, Sajidh again claimed he was not sworn in as a police constable, despite attending the ceremony. The court rejected this claim, ruling that he was lying, and ordered his remand in custody for 20 days.

Ahmed Shafiu, media officer and public prosecutor at the Prosecutor General’s Office, confirmed that Sajidh was officially charged with drug trafficking on the 3rd of this month.