Sunday, November 11, 2007

Shafiu ashamed of immigration involvement in escape of terror suspects

11 November 2007
Report: Ayya

Controller of Immigration and Emigration Ibrahim Shafiu has said that he is ashamed and dismayed at the involvement of an Immigration Officer in the escape of 2 key terror suspects of Sultan Park explosion of 29 September 2007.

Speaking to Velidhoo News, Shafiu said the officer who helped the escape of the terror suspects is sympathetic to the terrorists cause. Shafiu also said if a person lacks sincerity such unfortunate events will occur.

“That officer has no sincerity what so ever to the government as well as to his job; the purpose of the man at the Immigration counter is to check who is departing and who is arriving; if he is not sincere about that he can even give clearance for a man to depart on a woman’s passport, he send an adult on a child’s passport, the person at the counter shoulders a huge responsibility, we cannot keep a guard behind every officer” said a very distressed Shafiu.

Continuing his conversation with
Velidhoo News, Shafiu said Department of Immigration takes full responsibility.

“In addition to his job responsibilities, the officer at the counter should be loyal to the country; their responsibility includes checking on those who depart, whether their travel is in accordance with the prevalent laws and regulations; the officers may not be sworn in but they are there trusted to carry out certain responsibilities” said the Controller of Immigration and Emigration.

Regarding prevention of such happenings in future, Shafiu said that sincerity of a person should not be under estimated.

“We have to check how sincere is the person, we cannot do anything more, we are always conducting various programs to make them more trustworthy, to be more considerate to the country’s stability and harmony, I don’t believe this would be a normal occurrence, we must consider that this particular officer is one of the hardliners” said Shafiu.

Speaking to Media Assistant Commissioner of Maldives Police has said that the aim of the Sultan Park explosion carried out on the 29 September 2007 was to carry out jihad by targeting non Muslims.

He further said in addition to the two fugitives wanted in connection with explosion, 8 more are now wanted. All of them have gone to Karachi via Sri Lanka said Riyaz.

“The 2 fugitives we were initially looking for have left the country, Abdul Latheef Ibrahim age 24 of L.Kalaidhoo left Maldives on the 17 of September, Ali Shameem age 25 of Sh. Komandoo left Maldives on the 22 of September, these 2 were barred from traveling abroad as they had expressed their desire to carry out jihad, however they left Maldives with the help Warahumath Ahmed of M. Radium Kokaa, an Immigration Officer sympathetic to their cause; we have taken Warahumath Ahmed in to our custody” said Riyaz

At the press briefing Police showed a cctv footage taken at the airport on the days these the 2 fugitives, Abdul Latheef Ibrahim and Ali Shameem left the country, the footage showed on both days Warahmath, the immigration Officer who facilitated the escape was at the Immigration counter to help them.

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