Ashraf removed from FIU, Sajid appointed

MMA's Financial Intelligence Unit head Abdulla Ashraf has been removed from his position, with Ismail Sajid being appointed.

MMA has stated that Ashraf was removed from his post and reassigned to another department due to ongoing structural changes. Ismail Sajid will take the post of FIU head tomorrow.

Ashraf will be leading the Risk and Compliance Department. Sajid, prior to getting appointed as the FIU head, was a previous member of the Tax Appeal Tribunal.

MMA created the FIU to combat money laundering and to stop any sort of financing towards terrorism, along with being vigilant concerning financial transactions that may break any laws. Only the MMA governor has the power to remove and appoint the head of the FIU.

On the day of Ashraf being removed from his post, which was last Thursday, an alleged copy of an FIU intelligence report concerning companies Baarah constituency Ibrahim Shujau had shares in was leaked on social media.

Ashraf was removed from his position as the FIU head in 2018 as well. He was dismissed due to a document he had presented to the police and the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) concerning suspicious transactions done by MMPRC during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration. Ashraf was reinstated as the FIU head in February 2023.