Minister Ihusaan defends request for CCTV footage in Shamaan case

Home Minister Ali Ihusaan stated today that his request to Immigration to handover the CCTV footage without delay to the police, related to the corruption case against former Controller General of Immigration Mohamed Shamaan, was made under his ministerial responsibility for both institutions. Shamaan is accused of misusing his official position in collusion with Immigration staff.

During today's hearing in Shamaan's case, an Immigration officer who handed over the CCTV footage testified that he was instructed to do so by the Head of the ICT Section. The officer further testified that the ICT Section Head called him and requested the handover of the footage for the police investigation because Minister Ihusaan had requested it.

In response to the criticism and questions directed at him following this news, Minister Ihusaan posted on Facebook, saying that as the Minister in charge of both the police and Immigration, it is his responsibility to do everything possible to expedite matters if there are delays.

"And I want to state that as long as I am the Minister, I will continue to do this, without exception, in the future as well," the Minister said.

Ihusaan noted that the lawyers’ comments imply that ordering the provision of video footage when the police request it and face delays is wrong. He questioned what the lawyer would say if the police had requested assistance and he had failed to provide it.

"It is concerning that lawyers speak in a way that suggests the person who asked to provide the camera and footage—which would show a wrongdoing—is at fault, rather than the wrongdoing itself," the Minister stated.

In today's hearing, defense lawyer Noorussalam Abubakuru questioned the official procedure regarding the Minister's request for footage related to Shamaan's case, pointing out that typically such requests are made directly by the police. The witness confirmed that while police usually handle these requests, access is often granted when senior officials, including the Minister, ask for it, depending on the situation.

The State Prosecutor inquired whether the Minister contacted the officer directly, to which the officer affirmed that there was no direct communication. Shamaan's family has accused Minister Ihusaan of using his power to orchestrate Shamaan's arrest, claiming concerns arose over a "video" involving the Minister, though specifics were not disclosed. Ihusaan refuted these allegations, stating that the arrest was not motivated by personal reasons.

Shamaan was dismissed and arrested in March on allegations of conspiring with Immigration personnel to improperly release a foreign detainee and for reportedly taking MVR 500,000 from the individual, which was delivered to his home. The charges against him include Misuse of Official Authority, Extortion, and Money Laundering, with the court ordering his detention until the trial concludes.