Malé, Maldives – Parliament of Maldives has approved, Hamid Abdul Ghafoor to be in Board of Directors for Maldives Police Service.
Hamid has been given approval by parliament with 41 votes in favor of him for the board as a general member. The new Police Service Bill passed by the parliament on December 7, 2020 after making amendments to several aspects included appointing Board of Directors to the Police institution.
Hamid Abdul Ghafoor was the former parliament member for Henveiru south constituency and also a top member of Maldivian Democratic Party. Hamid was arrested for possession and consumption of alcohol and drugs in Haa Dhaalu Hondaidhoo in 16 November 2012.
The accusations regarding the possession and use of alcohol and drugs in Hondaidhoo have was filed against Former Henveyru South MP Hamid Abdul Gafoor, Kaashidhoo MP Abdullah Jabir, Press Secretary of the government of former President Mohamed Nasheed, Mohamed Zuhair, his wife Mariyam Faiz, Jadullah Hameel, former Special Envoy to the president Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, and his son Mohamed Hamdhaan Zaki in 2013.
According to the new Bill, the Police Board is to look into matters of inhumane acts, misusage of power and corruption allegations against the officers in the institution, as well as partake of illegal or unethical activities while being a member of the Maldives Police Service.
The Police Board of Directors will consist of:
- Two members appointed by the President.
- Three merit-based appointments of technical and experience.
- Two appointed from the public after open applications.
The Directors will also be granted the authority to dismiss officers after taking into account of all the accusations on them. The dismissal of all the senior officers above the rank of police superintendent can be decided by the board under the new amendments made to the bill.
The new amendment also states that the officers will retain their positions and continue to provide services, until the board makes a decision on whether to dismiss the officer or not.
