Police on Sunday placed former home minister Umar Naseer under police protection after he received a death threat from alleged gang members.
Umar who had announced his intention to run in the 2018 presidential elections against his former boss, incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom said he had requested for police protection soon after he stepped down last month.
"... But police had said they were assessing the security threat. The death threat came after that," Umar said.
"I believe that home ministers of any country would need police protection. If they [home ministers] do the job right they would need security. That's why I requested for security after I resigned."
Three men allegedly from a notorious local gang had confronted security guards at his office around 1am Sunday.
The alleged gangsters had threatened to kill the outspoken former minister before getting away.
Police along with Umar's private security team are now investigating the incident.
Umar suddenly stepped down last month after president Yameen stripped him of the authority to issue surveillance orders.
Umar’s influence within the government had been on the decline after his crackdown on gangs.
President Yameen relieved Umar of the authority to issue monitoring and control (MONICON) orders and appointed a four member committee to handle the task.
The newly formed committee mandated to “advise” the home minister on MONICON orders has effectively relieved the minister as the sole authority for such orders.
Maldives has electronically tagged, conducted surveillance and intercepted communications of several high-profile gang members which has put pressure on Umar from even within the government.
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