Maldives Police Service (MPS) has revealed that the expatriate, who was detained by immigration authorities with more than half a million rufiyaa, was released on the orders of former controller general Shaman Ahmed Waheed. The police said this in a press release issued last evening in connection with the immigration case.

In the statement, the police said that based on a tip-off that some immigration employees were misusing their positions and taking undue favours from migrant workers, the police were investigating the misuse of their position by employees of sections other than the task force and risk management, which is usually responsible for the detention of illegal migrants.

During the course of investigation, a raid was conducted at the residence of migrant labourers and it was found that a large amount of cash was also taken away from the foreigners who were detained by the immigration authorities, police said, adding that on the orders of controller Shaman, the next day of their arrest, it was found that the foreigner, who had gone to immigration with MVR 530,000 from there, was released.

During the search of the migrant worker's house, it was found that the immigration staff, who were part of the search operation, met the foreigner who was released from detention on the road, recovered the cash from him and took the money from him and entered the building where Shaman lived.

Acting on a court order, five persons were stopped and searched and electronic gadgets were seized from them, police said, adding that searches were conducted at shaman's residence.

During a search of the premises, the police recovered a huge amount of cash and electronic items from the house. Police did not say how much money was taken from the house.

Late last night, police announced that they were looking into allegations of abuse of office by a group of immigration employees. While three people have been arrested in connection with the case, Shaman has also been removed from the post of controller general of immigration. Former Police Commissioner (CP) Ahmed Fasih was appointed to the post last night.