Claims and allegations by Nazim are false: Dawood

The legal counsel for Assistant Commissioner of Police Mohamed Dawood has stated that the claims made by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim, during a subcommittee meeting of the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee regarding serious corruption allegations against Dhaawood, are false.

Nazim’s report, presented at yesterday's subcommittee meeting, alleged that illicit funds were deposited into the bank accounts of some members of Dawood’s family. Nazim also claimed that undisclosed funds were deposited into Dawood 's own account.

The report was unanimously passed by all members attending the subcommittee meeting to be forwarded to the Public Accounts Committee.

In a press statement issued last tonight, Dawood 's legal counsel refuted the claims in the report, asserting that no funds from an undisclosed source were deposited into Dawood’s account. His lawyers guaranteed that no illegal transaction was conducted through Dawood’s account.

The statement further claimed that investigations carried out by the state and statements given by former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb have clarified that Dawood did not receive any money linked to the MMPRC corruption scandal.

The lawyers’ statement also maintained that the judicial decisions related to administrative investigations previously conducted by the Police Board clearly show that there is no room to question Dawood’s integrity.

"We urge members to refrain from making such statements, as speaking falsehoods about a responsible officer of a law enforcement agency will erode public trust in such institutions. Furthermore, we state that it is irresponsible to live stream unproven claims in a parliamentary committee without giving the accused party a chance to respond," Dawood 's legal counsel said in the statement issued in his defense.

The statement also stressed that the claims made by members in Parliament must be responsible and must not infringe upon the legal rights of any party.

Following the serious allegations, Dhaawood went on leave, and the management of Hulhumalé Police was temporarily handed over to Assistant Commissioner Ahmed Mohamed. Although Ahmed Mohamed was temporarily put in charge yesterday, it is not clear whether any official action has been taken against Dawood, whose accounts were found to have received funds of unknown origin.

Ahmed Nazim, the Chair of the subcommittee that investigated matters related to POLCO  and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, said that deposits of unknown "source of income" were found in Dawood’s account in 2023 and 2024. Nazim added that since police officers are prohibited from engaging in business, Dawood does not own shares in any business.

Nazim further mentioned that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has noted other issues related to the case. However, he stated that this information cannot be disclosed as it is contained within a confidential ACC report.

Nazim noted that the report compiled by the Asset Recovery Commission regarding the MMPRC corruption scandal also flagged deposits into Dawood 's account. He mentioned that Dawood 's name, along with Chief Superintendent of Police Ismail Shameem Adam and two now-retired officers, Ahmed Shuhadh and Hassan Habeeb, are on a list of 280 suspected individuals in that report.

Nazim claimed that once the committee began its investigation into POLCO, information shared by whistleblowers revealed that businessman Hassan Thaufeeq and Dawood were jointly involved in a MVR 10.5 million real estate investment in the name of their wives. This involved constructing a 10-storey building in M. Thalamudhige and profiting from it. Nazim confirmed that a copy of the agreement, registered at the Civil Court, was obtained by the Committee.

Nazim also stated that Dawood was found to have purchased an apartment from a flat building constructed by FW Construction, an apartment valued at MVR 4.1 million. He noted that the full price was paid in cash across ten installments.

Dawood was one of the officers the Police Board had decided to dismiss in 2021. However, the Civil Court overturned the Police Board's decision after the officers filed a case, allowing him to remain in the police service until now.