Anti-corruption watchdog orders recovery of MVR2 billion

The Anti-Corruption Commission has instructed various government offices to recover more than MVR2 billion (US$129 million) owed to the state.

The missing funds were identified in 27 probes concluded during the first three quarters of 2018, the watchdog revealed in a statement Monday.

Four cases involving MVR1.8 billion were forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s office to press criminal charges earlier this year.

Transparency International says the Maldives has made little to no progress to combat corruption, falling 17 positions in country rankings.

Its local chapter Transparency Maldives said only one corruption-related case reached conviction between 2010 and 2014, despite 175 cases being submitted for prosecution by the ACC.