Criminal Court releases former police intelligence chief

The Criminal Court has ordered the release of former head of police intelligence Chief Superintendent Mohamed Hameed from custody, just a few hours after the High Court upheld its decision to keep him detained.

The five-day detention warrant granted by the Criminal Court expired on Tuesday at 2:00pm, and Hameed was brought before the court by the police with a request for further extension.

However contrary to its first decision, the court sanctioned Hameed’s release by concluding that it “does not believe the detention should be extended any further.”

Police have accused the former intelligence chief for “threatening the internal security” or jeopardizing domestic harmony of the country following his contribution to the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s report (Dhivehi) into the controversial transfer of power on February 7.

As Hameed walked out of the court, he was greeted by former President Mohamed Nasheed who welcomed him and shook hands, while eager MDP supporters circling the area hailed Chief Superintendent Hameed as a “national hero”.

High Court’s “ridiculous” ruling

Following the Criminal Court’s previous decision to keep Hameed detained for five days, his family appealed the case in High court, contesting the legitimacy of Criminal Court’s decision to extend his detention.

On Tuesday morning the three judge panel presiding over the case – Judge Abdu Rauf, Judge Shuaib Hussain Zakariyya and Judge Abdul Ghanee – unanimously ruled that they “found no legal grounds” to declare the criminal court’s decision unlawful.

Hameed’s lawyer Ismail Visham argued in court that his client had been subjected to discrimination.

Visham told the court that there were police officers accused of more serious crimes who had not been detained, alleging that in one instance a senior police officer stood accused of attempting to rape a woman and in another incident, influence a judge in a case involving the police officer’s interest.

He further contended that the Criminal Court judge had extended Hameed’s detention period not based on what the police told the judge, but based on the judge’s own view, and that Hameed had therefore lost the right to respond to the accusations.

In response, the state attorney said that Hameed was accused not of a disciplinary matter but a criminal offence, and argued that the Criminal Court judge had declared Hameed a threat to society because police told the judge he might seek to “intimidate witnesses” and “destroy evidence”.

The High Court judges concluded that the defense had not provided enough evidence to substantiate discrimination claims.

The ruling also stated that the constitution does not prohibit the presiding judge from considering reasons in addition to what is provided by the police, in cases concerning the extension of a suspect’s detention.

Following the High Court decision, Hameed’s family today called the ruling “ridiculous” as his detention period was due to expire at 2:00pm today.

“The five day extension will come to an end at 2:00pm today and he will be brought to court again to either have his custody extended or be released. The timing of the High Court verdict on his appeal is ridiculous since his five days are up today anyway,” a family member said.

Witch-hunt against police whistleblowers

In a statement released today, police have said the investigation against Hameed is continuing.

Police allege the Chief Superintendent “distributed information obtained pertinent to his tenure as Head of the Intelligence Department, police matters and internal security, along with [providing] misleading information to certain individuals for reaping benefit out of it to cause divisions between police officers and the community.”

The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) meanwhile held protests last weekend calling for Hameed’s immediate release, claiming that is arrest is “further evidence of the Maldives’ rapid descent into a police state” and that it is a “witch-hunt” against honest officers revealing the criminal offenses committed by rogue police officers on February 7.

“Brave men and women who wish to stand up for the rule of law, for democracy and for human rights are today subjected to constant threats and intimidation. This purge of police officers who the Government considers possible opponents demonstrates President Waheed’s growing paranoia and the fact that his coalition Government are determined to rule by fear,” MDP’s Spokesperson Hamid Abdul Ghafoor said in a statement released last week.

“MDP calls on the EU, the US, the UN Human Rights Council and others to urgently enquire into the well-being of these police officers and to hold this illegal government accountable for their growing use of violence and intimidation for political means,” he added.

President’s spokesperson Abbas Adil Riza told Minivan News today that government has no plans of intervening in the case as it is a “police matter”.

“But if police find a case against him” Riza said, “the government will support the any decision to uphold the laws and constitution.”

He further added: “The Police Act governs conducts of police officers and treatment of information individual receive as officers. It is the policy of the government that no civil secret be released.”

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7 thoughts on “Criminal Court releases former police intelligence chief”

  1. The evidence submitted to obtain the court warrant stated that a draft of the report with recommended changes was found in Hameed’s gmail account, and messages were found that suggested Hameed was consulted prior to the release of the report. - http://minivannewsarchive.com/politics/police-arrest-chief-superintendent-for-helping-compile-ameen-aslam-coup-report-39046

    "Were found" ?

    What does that mean? Should we start encrypting our messages?

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  2. Betraying sensitive information is not only a crime but it is also thoroughly unpatriotic.

    Much more so in light of that Mohamed Hameed was a member of the police, sworn to uphold our constitution whilst jettissoning his political loyalties.

    That, alas, was the opposite of his conduct. His blatant favouring of the MDP renders salient that he cannot be expected to act professionally.

    For putting our national security and religion in danger, he must be punished.

    As for the MDP, the MalDeviant Democratic Party vest him with their support not out of any principled commitment to the rule of law but out of gratitude for the man's favoring of them. And because they are constituted of harlots and emasculated miscreants in awe of his perfectly chiselled face and physique.

    Know this MalDeviants: even the smoothest of skin shall melt and writhe in the hellfire; even the most piercing sultry gaze can be of no avail on the day of judgement.

    Do not think of Mohamed Hameed. Think of what happened to the people of Sodom. Think of your lord, who created you and sustains you. Be not tempted by what is forbidden, and do not adulate or drool in awe of traitors but turn to faith and virtue and great shall be your reward.

    Or I shall vigorously pray for your final demise. Alhamdulillaah.

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  3. Atleast the courts work now..unlike a few months ago(not taking a shot at mdp per say,but Nasheed was blatantly unconstitutional with detaining judges against court orders)

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  4. so he is a criminal now coz he wanted to reveal the truth about atrocities committed against the nation by some officers from Police and MNDF. We have seen their violent and inhumane activities against their fellow Maldivians in the past couple of months. Any patriotic Maldivian who loves this nation will do the same. You can bury all these in history, but our future generations will dig it out and serve justice! I will make sure my children and their children carry the legacy of loving the nation instead of trying to hide behind when it comes to justice! Even if an individual or a unifrom body conspires against the state especially by a coup every citizen should stand against it

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  5. @Ibrahim

    The police are empowered to use force at their discretion should they see fit.

    In the United States if the president does not like you he can even call for your assasination via drone strike. Such was the fate of Anwar Al-Awlaki, may Allah be pleased with him.

    Be thankful that this is not the U.S, where the state regularly carries out political executions with impunity.

    Show gratitude to our men in uniform who protect us from miscreants, drug-dealers and violent gangsters.

    Shame on Mohamed Hameed for betraying them and putting us all in peril.

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  6. I don't think Ablo Riyaz has the mental ability to run this office.

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  7. @Dhivehi Hanguraama

    We are going through difficult times. I find your comments insensitive, odious and frankly nauseous. How about you keep your psycho path thoughts to yourself?

    DH please find a good mental hospital , or better still, migrate to Pakistan, or Saudia Arabia where I am sure you will be warmly welcomed.

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