Minister Ihusan asserts Shammaan was not framed

Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan has refuted claims that former Controller of Immigration Mohamed Shammaan Waheed was framed, stating that there is credible evidence against him.

Ihusan is attending today's parliament sitting to respond to questions posed by MPs.

MP for South Hulhumale' Ahmed Shamheed asked the minister if Shammaan is being detained in relation to a personal problem that arose between him and the minister, as is being rumoured.

Responding to this, Ihusan confirmed that he had had good relations with Shammaan when they had worked together. Regardless, he said, when there is a breach of law, personal relations do not exempt anyone from being brought to justice.

"We do not consider a person's status or which position they are in. The law does not know a person's designation. So, when we are implementing the law, we do not consider what position they may be holding," he said.

Ihusan asserted that regardless of which position a person may hold, they will be investigated if there are criminal allegations against them.

Ihusan assured Shammaan's family that this government has not framed him, adding that he, too, will be granted all the rights he is entitled to by law.

Vaikaradhoo MP Hussain Ziyad (Fittey) then asked the minister why, if all are equal, there are discrepancies in how investigations are conducted against senior officials of the government. As an example, he cited the allegations against former Managing Director of Housing Development Corporation Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed.

"As far as we could see, taking into consideration the amount of money found at his residence as well, Shammaan seems far below. But HDC's MD remains free, while Shammaan is in indefinite detention. I cannot understand why this has to be so," Ziyad said.

Ziyad, too, took up the family's concerns and asked if any persons had been involved in framing Shammaan.

Ihusan once again rejected these claims, stating, "I am certain that the man in detention in this case is there because solid evidence was found through the Police investigation".

Ihusan stated that additional details regarding this will be disclosed to the public after the investigation is completed, and the case sent for prosecution. He announced that Police would be releasing these details tomorrow.

In response to Ziyad's questions about Fazul, the minister said that 'you cannot compare apples and oranges', stating the allegations against Fazul were significantly different to the crimes Shammaan has been accused of.