The Supreme Court has upheld Criminal Court’s decision to keep former Controller General of Immigration, Mohamed Shamaan Waheed, in detention pending trial over corruption-related charges.

Shamaan was arrested on March 22, 2025, along with two other officers in connection with a case involving the alleged extortion of money from a foreign national detained during an immigration raid. He is accused of ordering the release of the individual after MVR 530,000 was recovered from the scene.

Following his initial 15 day remand, the Criminal Court extended his judicial custody, citing the risk of interference with witnesses due to his former position and influence. The High Court later affirmed the remand order, prompting Shamaan to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court ruled that there was no basis to overturn the lower court’s decision, stating that he had not provided sufficient grounds to justify a review.

The Prosecutor General’s Office has filed three charges against Shamaan, including robbery, abuse of official authority, and money laundering. If found guilty, he faces up to 20 years in prison. The individual charges carry varying maximum sentences: abuse of official position – one year, seven months, and six days; robbery – three years, two months, and two days; and money laundering – five to fifteen years, with the possibility of a substantial fine.