The Maldives Police Service has dismissed rumours about a policeman being involved in an extortion scheme, calling the claims baseless.

The allegations, which surfaced on social media, suggested that a policeman and his wife were extorting large sums of money through Viber. Their photos were shared online, leading to widespread speculation.

In a statement issued late Thursday, the police clarified that the case involved a compromised Viber account. Fraudsters had used the hacked account to text the owner’s contacts and solicit money. Three related cases are currently under investigation.

The police revealed that swift action was taken following the complaint, allowing them to recover the hacked Viber account and return it to its rightful owner. They also managed to trace Rs 10,100 that had been fraudulently collected from three individuals. Of this amount, Rs 5,600 was held in an account used for circulating the stolen money.

The statement further explained that one of the bank accounts used in the fraud belonged to the wife of a policeman. However, it was established that her email and bank accounts had also been hacked and used by others.

“So far, the investigation has not uncovered any involvement of police personnel in this case,” the police said. They assured the public that if any evidence emerges linking a policeman to the crime, appropriate action will be taken.

The police also confirmed that efforts to recover all stolen funds and hold those responsible accountable are ongoing.