Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusan has rejected allegations from former Controller General of Immigration Mohamed Shamaan Waheed that he was “framed,” labeling the accusations as unfounded and lacking evidence.

The minister’s reply followed the Criminal Court's sentencing of Shamaan to 25 years in prison yesterday, as he was found guilty of several charges, such as money laundering, extortion, and misuse of official power.

After the verdict, Shamaan claimed publicly that specific individuals had orchestrated the case against him under the directions of Minister Ihusan.

In a response on X, Ihusan stated that the former immigration chief persists in making grave accusations while failing to provide any proof to support his assertions.

The minister remarked that comparable accusations had been made before and emphasized that he had previously notified media organizations that the claims were untrue.

Ihuman states that the evidence collected in the police inquiry disputes assertions that Shamaan was a target of a politically charged setup.

“The evidence gathered by the Maldives Police Service indicates that the claims of being framed are unfounded,” the minister stated.

To tackle public concerns and promote transparency, Ihusan disclosed that he has asked the Maldives Police Service to openly clarify how the investigation progressed and share more information about the case.

The case involving Shamaan has garnered considerable public interest following his arrest, primarily due to his previous position as the leader of the Maldives Immigration Department and the grave nature of the accusations.

On Tuesday, the Criminal Court sentenced Shamaan to a total of 25 years in prison. The punishment includes 15 years for money laundering, eight years for extortion, and two years for misuse of official authority.

The sentence signifies one of the most prominent corruption cases concerning a senior government official in recent times.

Shamaan insists on his innocence and claims that the case has political motivations, but officials have consistently asserted that the investigation was carried out based on evidence obtained during the inquiry.

The Maldives Police Service has not provided additional information about the minister's demand for a public clarification of the investigation.

The situation continues to spark extensive debate, with Shamaan's advocates probing the conditions of the prosecution, whereas government representatives assert that the court's decision relied on the evidence shown throughout the legal process.