Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusaan has appointed Farhad Fikry as the Acting Police Commissioner, following the retirement of former Police Commissioner Ismail Naveen. Fikry becomes the third police commissioner in just two and a half years under President Mohamed Muizzu’s administration, raising concerns over instability at the top of the Maldives Police Service.
Former Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed has warned that frequent changes in leadership erode public confidence and damage morale within the force. In a blog post following Naveen’s retirement, Hameed stated that three commissioners in two and a half years is not normal turnover for any professional police service and should alarm anyone concerned about institutional stability.
He noted that a police service depends heavily on consistent leadership and clear direction. When leadership changes repeatedly, long-term reform efforts lose momentum, policy priorities are constantly reset, and operational clarity weakens. In such circumstances, he said, officers may begin to question whether professionalism is truly valued — or whether political alignment determines their survival.
Fikry’s appointment has drawn additional criticism as he faces serious allegations currently under investigation by Parliament’s Security Services (241) Committee. His predecessor, Ali Sujau, resigned earlier this year and was dismissed within hours, adding to concerns over politicized appointments.
The most serious allegations against Fikry involve tampering with a rape investigation linked to his son, Mohamed Fauzan Farhad. On May 7, 2018, the Prosecutor General’s office sent a letter stating that “Farhad Fikry had been found to have influenced” a case involving the rape and photographing of a 16-year-old girl in a guesthouse. According to the letter, he deleted photos from a phone taken during the assault.
Fauzan has previously faced serious criminal allegations, including a 2014 case involving the rape of a minor. In February 2025, he was allegedly intoxicated and attacked a law enforcement officer during arrest. Police allege that Fikry used his influence to interfere in the case, including falsifying drug test results, preventing remand proceedings, and removing a vehicle connected to the incident from the tow yard.
Critics argue that appointing an officer facing such allegations further undermines public trust in law enforcement and raises serious questions about accountability within the police service.
