Major General Shamaal hesitated to answer some questions: Inquiry Report

Chief of Defense Force Major General Abdullah Shamaal | Photo: Sun

Malé, Maldives – Inquiry report publicized by the 241 Committee over the security breach of Former President and Current Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Nasheed during May 6 terror attack states that Chief of Defence Force Major General Abdullah Shamaal hesitated from answering some of the questions he was asked.

As a respond to the questions Shamaal was asked at the 241 Committee, he stated that Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) works under a mission command and that people, resources and tasks are assigned under this arrangement. He stated that for operational level commanders, commanders are given full control under “Decentralized Operational Command and Control Structure.”

Noting that although the operation head is the Chief of Defense Force, when he was questioned regarding SPG operations, Shamaal stated that he believes that it is more appropriate for SPG members to respond to that question.

The inquiry report states that the response of Shamaal, as a member in a responsible position, head of an association and under the responsibility upon him under the law conflicts the whole operation’s chief Mandator.

The report states that when Shamaal was questioned regarding things related to DIS, he refrained from answering them as well. However, the report noted that as Chief of Defense Force, there is no directorate for Shamaal to refrain from answering the questions.

The inquiry report compiled by the Parliament’s Committee on National Security Services (241 Committee) was publicized on Thursday after redacting confidential information regarding national security.