Deputy Speaker Criticises Anti-Corruption Commission Over Inaction

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for the Dhiggaru constituency, Ahmed Nazim, criticised the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) accusing it of ineffectiveness in addressing major corruption cases.

Nazim’s remarks were made during a meeting of the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) Committee of Parliament, yesterday, where ACC members were present. He argued that while the law restricts the police from investigating corruption, delays by the ACC lead to the expiration of prosecution deadlines, resulting in cases being dismissed.

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Nazim noted that despite the appointment of new ACC members every term, the outcome remained unchanged, expressing frustration that each new group of members failed to produce results. He questioned why the ACC did not request the removal of FENAKA’s former Managing Director Ahmed Saeed, despite numerous corruption complaints against the company. 

Nazim demanded an explanation for the loss of MVR four billion at the end of the administration, questioning the ACC’s inability to remove Saeed from his position despite having the authority.

In response, the ACC noted that the matter was brought to the attention of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and other agencies, including the Privatisation and Corporatisation Board.

ACC Probes 896 Cases Involving State-Owned Enterprises

The ACC is currently investigating 896 cases related to SOEs, as stated by its President, Adam Shaamil, during the committee meeting. Shaamil explained that these investigations are conducted in two phases: a preliminary phase and a deeper investigative phase. Of the total cases, 316 are in the preliminary phase, while 580 are in the deeper investigative phase.

Shaamil emphasised that the number of cases being investigated is concerning. He highlighted the challenges faced by the commission, particularly during the recent presidential and parliamentary elections, which saw a significant influx of cases due to a more accessible filing process.

The ACC’s primary responsibility, according to Shaamil, is to investigate cases and seek charges from the Prosecutor General’s Office when appropriate. The ACC’s annual report for the previous year revealed that 1,151 cases were filed, with 112 involving the misuse of state funds and resources. However, only MVR 234,532 was recovered out of the MVR 50.3 billion the commission directed various government entities to reclaim for the state.