Head of Maldives Financial Intelligence Unit Suspended Amid Leak Fallout

Ismail Sajid, the recently appointed head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) at the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), has been suspended from his duties, according to sources familiar with the matter. Sajid was reportedly instructed not to report to work this week, though no official reasons for his suspension have been disclosed. Sajid assumed the role in late August, shortly after a confidential FIU report detailing transactions linked to Ibrahim Shujau, a senior deputy leader of the PNC parliamentary group, was leaked on social media. The report, shared anonymously on X, highlighted substantial sums allegedly deposited to Shujau through the Army Welfare Cooperative (CIVEC). Following Sajid’s appointment, Abdulla Ashraf, the long-serving FIU head, was transferred to the position of Head of Risk and Compliance. Repeated attempts by SunOnline to seek comments from the MMA regarding Sajid’s suspension have been unsuccessful. Prior to joining the FIU, Sajid was a member of the Tax Appeal Tribunal, from which he voluntarily resigned.