News Desk
MALÉ, Maldives — The Maldives Police Service’s disciplinary board has recommended the dismissal of four officers accused of depositing unusually large sums into their personal accounts, a decision that has thrust the force into the spotlight amid growing scrutiny over financial irregularities.
The board, acting on findings from the Professional Standards Command, concluded its investigation on Wednesday and voted to remove the officers from their positions. In a statement, it also called for their immediate suspension pending any appeals, a step intended to preserve public trust in the institution.
Details about the individuals remain closely guarded. The police have not released names or ranks. Media reports that the group includes three sworn officers and one civilian employee, all stationed at the Milandhoo Police Station in Shaviyani Atoll.
The episode surfaced last week after posts on social media platforms claimed that roughly 18 million rufiyaa had been funnelled illicitly into accounts linked to the station, possibly through a catering contract meant to supply meals for personnel. Those allegations, which spread rapidly among local online communities, prompted the internal probe.
The inquiry highlights broader concerns about oversight within the Maldives’ security apparatus, especially as the country grapples with economic pressures and rising expectations for accountability in public spending.
The 2025 budget devotes 445 million rufiyaa to feeding the Maldives National Defence Force and the police, a line item that underscores the costs of maintaining security in a nation strung across a thousand islands. Of that sum, 168 million rufiyaa targets police meals directly, with an additional 87 million set aside for personal food stipends to officers — the equivalent of about 7 million rufiyaa disbursed each month across the ranks.
For the officers involved, the path forward remains uncertain. Appeals could extend the timeline by weeks or months, during which they would remain off duty. In the Maldives, where policing falls under a civilian-led ministry, such cases often draw intense public and political attention, particularly when they touch on questions of graft or misuse of funds.
