Judge warns Shamaan: Trial will not be a media circus

The presiding judge has warned former Immigration Controller Mohamed Shamaan Waheed to not make his trial a "media circus" and that steps will be taken if done as such.

Shamaan was arrested in March and later charged with abuse of official position, theft, and money laundering for allegedly taking MVR 500,000 from a foreigner who was released from immigration custody in collusion with other staff.

Presiding Judge Ibrahim Ihusan warned for the trial to not be the foundation to create media headlines after today's hearing where a witness, an employee from Immigration's Controller Bureau had jointly asked a question with Shamaan.

The witness and Shamaan posed the question in conjunction with stating that Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan had told some Immigration employees to act against the law. When Shamaan asked the question, the prosecution objected to this line of questioning, with the judge stepping in to stop the question as well.

Judge Ihusan said that the trial cannot become a media circus nor can it be used to create media headlines. The judge also said that Shamaan has every opportunity to speak in his defense and question witnesses, but the trial cannot be used to send people certain messages. He said that if done so, steps will be taken.

"There will be no opportunity for this trial to be turned into a circus nor for media headlines to be made," said the judge.

As per Judge Ihusan, certain messages or statements can be expressed during witness questioning. Judge Ihusan also said that if Shamaan does as such once more, he will not be given the opportunity to pose questions.

As per the Immigration employee, Shamaan had told the employee to tell the relevant departments to release the foreigner that was detained after they had received a letter via email requesting for his release.

The employee said that once he was told to do as such, he had written so in the letter and told the relevant departments. However, the employee gave his testimony saying that the foreigner's statement needs to be taken before their release, as was told in the letter.

An individual who works to recruit foreigners was the second to give their testimony. As per the individual, the foreigner is a private worker in Maldives as was told by various others.

Even though Shamaan, who is being held in remand, requested his remand be reviewed, Judge Ihusan stated that it cannot be done today due to time constraints, with a review hearing to be held at a later date.

Shamaan is among several defendants charged in the case, including Ahmed Lassan, Ahmed Shaheshan, Ibrahim Ahmed, and Ahmed Alsan Ismail.

Alsan confessed to the crime, with him being sentenced to two months in prison after signing a confession agreement. After the sentence was enforced, he has since been released from prison.