Kimbidhoo Constituency MP Abdullah Riyaz has submitted an emergency motion to the Parliament’s National Security Service Committee to investigate the allegations made by Male’ City Council Member Zaidhul Ameen on Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdullah Nawaz.

In the letter sent with the motion, MP Riyaz said that Zaidhul Ameen had made serious allegations against Maldives Police Service in the statement released on February 22, 2017.

“His statement implies the involvement of a senior Police officer in giving a false statement regarding President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. This case must be investigated by this Committee to ensure that the Service remains trusted by the public and the recommendations of both the Committee and Parliament be sent to the Government,” Riyaz’s letter said. Riyaz is the former Commissioner of Police.

Zaidhul Ameen was arrested on January 13, over allegations of blackmail. His remand has been extended four times since. In a statement released last week, he claimed that he was arrested to force confessions out of him, against former President Maumoon.

Ameen said that officers had questioned him regarding the missing hard disk from the PPM headquarters, and that he was asked to give a statement saying that the PPM leader had them. He also revealed that he had been asked to change lawyers as his defense lawyer, Mahfooz Saeed is a lawyer “who is against government policies.”

Furthermore, Ameen alleged that the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Abdulla Nawaz had asked him to stop supporting President Maumoon “as he no longer has any power.” He said that he has been assured that they will “provide him with whatever job he wants in government.” Furthermore, claiming that Nawaz had told him they “need a statement to arrest President Maumoon,” adding that “otherwise he will remain in custody like Shumba Gong, without a trial.”