The Criminal Court has remanded former Immigration Controller Mohamed Shamaan Waheed in custody for 15 days following his arrest over bribery allegations.

Shamaan was taken into custody under a court order on suspicion of accepting a bribe in exchange for the release of a detained expatriate.

Police revealed that three individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, which involves the alleged misappropriation of MVR 530,000.

Authorities stated that a search of Shamaan’s residence led to the seizure of a significant amount of cash and multiple electronic devices.

According to police, their investigation found that certain Immigration staff had misused their positions to conduct an unauthorized search of an expatriate accommodation.

During this operation, several expatriates were detained, and cash in their possession was confiscated.

One of the detained expatriates, who had MVR 530,000 at the time of the raid, was released the following night under Shamaan’s orders.

Police further alleged that after the expatriate’s release, Immigration staff involved in the search later encountered the individual on the street and took the money to Shamaan’s residence.

The case involves Immigration personnel operating outside the designated Task Force and Risk Management units, which are officially responsible for identifying and detaining expatriates residing illegally in the country.

Authorities claim that those involved abused their positions to carry out the operation.

A total of five individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, and multiple electronic devices have been seized under a court order.

The investigation remains ongoing.