Ismail Sajid, the former head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) at the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), has publicly stated that his removal from the post over confirmed sexual harassment allegations was conducted without legal justification.
Sajid, who assumed the role of FIU chief in August last year, was suspended in December after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced. A committee appointed by the MMA to investigate such cases concluded that the allegations against him were substantiated, leading to his dismissal last Thursday. MMA has yet to release an official statement regarding the matter.
Sajid Disputes Committee Findings
In a Facebook post today, Sajid argued that the committee reached its decision despite him submitting evidence suggesting that the complainant had provided false statements. He claimed that the evidence he presented was ignored and that the committee did not consider it when concluding the investigation.
“The case presents circumstances that would make any reasonable person question the motive behind the filing of the complaint,” Sajid wrote. He further suggested that his actions against an FIU employee for misconduct may have contributed to what he described as “victimization.”
Timeline and Procedural Concerns
Sajid highlighted that the complaint was filed 39 days after the alleged incidents, during which documentation and other records could verify the sequence of events. He also addressed media reports indicating that an MMA employee had shared information before he was informed of the case. Sajid said he refrained from providing any statements to the media until now.
“This raises questions about either weak procedures for protecting sensitive information within the MMA or a deliberate attempt to tarnish my reputation and influence the investigation,” he wrote.
He added that if there were difficulties related to his leadership at the FIU, a direct request for resignation would have been a more appropriate solution. “There was absolutely no need to assassinate someone’s character,” he said.
Legal and Institutional Context
Sajid asserted that anyone reviewing the case details would recognize that the actions taken against him fall outside legal norms. Before leading the FIU, he served as a member of the Tax Appeal Tribunal.
The FIU, a unit within the MMA, monitors financial transactions under the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act. The authority to appoint or remove its head rests with the Governor of the MMA.
Last year, Abdulla Ashraf, Sajid’s predecessor, was also removed from the position and transferred to another department. At the time, MMA described the move as part of efforts to strengthen its operations.
