Former Immigration Controller Shamaan Waheed and four others have been formally charged with extorting money from a foreign national, authorities confirmed.
The charges, filed by police on 12 May, include extortion, abuse of official status, and money laundering. If convicted on all counts, Shamaan could face a minimum of nine years, nine months and 18 days in prison. The maximum penalty could rise to 19 years and nine months if he receives a 15-year sentence for money laundering.
Police arrested Shamaan and the four co-accused earlier this year. He is currently being held in custody pending trial after the High Court rejected his appeal challenging the remand order.
The extortion charge carries a basic sentence of three years, two months and 12 days in prison, while the abuse of office charge carries one year, seven months and six days. Money laundering is punishable by a fine and a prison term ranging from five to 15 years.
Shamaan’s wife and family claim he has been framed in retaliation for sharing information about alleged corruption involving Home Minister Ali Ihusan with President Mohamed Muizzu. They allege the case is politically motivated.
Ihusan, considered a close ally of President Muizzu, has been described by some ruling party insiders as the de facto second-in-command, with increasing influence within the administration.
No trial date has been set.