The state has appealed a court ruling that ordered the reinstatement of former Assistant Commissioner of the Maldives Correctional Service, Mohamed Asif.

Asif was suspended for an extended period over allegations that he transferred more than MVR 200,000 from the Prisons Club account to various bank accounts. He was later removed from his post in July last year.

He subsequently filed a civil case challenging his dismissal, and the Civil Court issued an interim order preventing the appointment of another person to the post while proceedings were ongoing.

The Civil Court later ruled that Asif’s dismissal was unlawful and ordered the state to reinstate him and pay his salary for the period he was suspended.

However, Maldives Correctional Service has now appealed the ruling at the High Court. A decision on the appeal has yet to be made.

Staff members had submitted a complaint to the Commissioner of Prisons, Hassan Zareer, alleging corruption related to Asif’s role as president of the Prisons Club. He was initially placed on paid suspension for eight months before being dismissed.