Corruption

Prosecutor General denies wrongdoing in dropping graft charges against ex-minister

Newly appointed Prosecutor General Aishath Bisham has denied allegations of conflict of interest in deciding not to prosecute a former presidential affairs minister for graft over last year’s poor Independence Day banquet.

Home minister is the latest politician under fire in tourism scandal

An anonymous member of the public lodged a complaint with the ACC on Monday alleging that Naseer threatened Fisheries Minister Mohamed Shainee and his staff to obtain a lagoon in Malé atoll for his Whale Submarine company, which conducts underwater submarine tours.

Former Vice President, top tourism official face fresh corruption charges

The Prosecutor General’s office has meanwhile filed money laundering charges against Hamid Ismail – an influential businessman related to detained former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb – at the criminal court this morning. According to the police, acquisition fees paid to the government’s tourism promotion company for a resort lease were deposited into the accounts of a company linked to Hamid, instead of the state treasury.

Adeeb faces fresh charges over missing funds from 17 resort leases

The police have also forwarded money laundering charges against Hamid Ismail, an influential businessman related to Adeeb. According to the police, acquisition fees paid to the MMPRC for a resort lease was deposited into the accounts of a company linked to Hamid, instead of the state treasury.

First couple’s cash handouts to single parents spark concern

Cash handouts to single mothers from President Abdulla Yameen and First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim has sparked concerns of corruption and a return to the patronage systems of old.

Insufficient evidence to prosecute ex-minister over independence day banquet scandal

The anti-corruption watchdog had found that Mohamed Hussain Shareef – who resigned in late October after being asked to stay home – awarded the MVR3.7 million catering contract to a restaurant owned by activists of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives despite their lack of experience.

Ex vice president, top tourism official charged with corruption

Adeeb is accused of abuse of power over the lease of a lagoon in Malé atoll to a foreign company. His associate, Abdulla Ziyath, former head of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), has been charged with embezzling acquisition fees from islands leased for resort development.

Boat blast suspect re-arrested on money laundering charge

An influential businessman, arrested in Malaysia, on suspicion of links to an explosion on President Abdulla Yameen’s speedboat was released on Friday, but detained immediately on a new charge of money laundering.

Impeached vice president facing corruption, illegal weapons charges

Impeached Vice President Ahmed Adeeb is now facing prosecution on charges of bribing police officers into divulging state secrets and smuggling weapons, the police have said.

Yameen speaks out on political infighting, betrayal, and corruption

President Abdulla Yameen, in his first public speech after the arrest of his deputy on suspicion of plotting an assassination attempt, revealed today the extent of political infighting, betrayal, deception and corruption within his administration.

Vice president inaugurates Maafaru airport project

The project to develop a domestic airport in Noonu Maafaru was awarded in November 2013 to Millennium Capital Investment – a local company involved in a US$6 million corruption scandal implicating then-Tourism Minister Adeeb in October 2014.

High Court upholds acquittal of president’s brother on corruption charges

Abdulla Algeen was accused of embezzling US$177,460 of Japanese funding from the Department of Meteorology while he was its director, but the High Court ruled that the prosecution was unable to prove that the money in question was owed to the state.

Corruption alleged in 90 luxury flat project

The opposition has lodged a complaint with the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) over the awarding of a contract without a bidding process to a real estate company to build a 20-storey luxury apartment complex in Malé.

Maldivians reluctant to seek help from courts due to corruption, finds study

A new study has identified corruption in the Maldives as the leading factor in lack of public confidence in the justice sector. Many Maldivians, therefore, want to settle disputes out of court.

Civil servants unlikely to report corruption over lack of justice, finds survey

Maldivian civil servants are unlikely to report government corruption due to delays in or lack of justice and lack of action by relevant authorities, a corruption perception survey has found.

MPs raise concern over Addu power cuts, expenses for independence celebrations

Opposition MPs are raising questions over the government’s use of some MVR150million (US$9.7million) for the Golden Jubilee of Independence celebrations and persistent power outages in southern Addu City

Corruption alleged in use of MVR150m budget for independence day

The ACC is investigating corruption in the home ministry’s use of an MVR150million budget allotted for independence day activities. The ministry is accused of awarding lucrative projects to private companies without a bidding process.

MDP calls for investigation into alleged unexplained wealth of PPM MP

Progressive Party of Maldives MP Abdul Latheef Mohamed has has spent between MVR3 million and MVR5 million in the Dhidhoo constituency during the past year, the MDP said, but he does not have business interests or “any other legitimate [sources of] income” apart from parliament.

Transparency Maldives call for criminalisation of Illicit enrichment

The United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) – which the Maldives acceded to in 2007 – defines illicit enrichment as a “significant increase in the assets of a public official that he or she cannot reasonably explain in relation to his or lawful income.”

Police officer in charge of Dhoonidhoo put detainees to work