The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is seeking criminal charges against Sports and Youth Minister Ahmed Mahloof, in relation to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption scandal.

While Mahloof is among the many people who are to have benefitted in the largest corruption scandal in the country’s history, ACC has completed its investigation into Mahloof’s case and forwarded the case for prosecution on Wednesday.

The anti-graft watchdog revealed this in a statement on Wednesday.

ACC back in February 2019 publicized its investigative report on the MMPRC case, which also included Mahloof’s name. However, the minister denied any wrongdoing claiming that the USD 33,000 was transferred to his account as part of a currency exchange deal. While he was suspended after the report was released, the suspension was lifted two months later after ACC and the police cleared his name.

And in order to prove his innocence, Mahloof submitted documents to ACC such as “payment received” receipts as well as a letter informing the body that he had transferred the sum in Maldivian Rufiyaa to Scores of Flairs (SoF), the company used to funnel the funds from the state.

Hence, the ACC notes that the minister had attempted to hide the facts from them, providing false information to an official investigation. Charges are being sought for this as well.

In addition, charges are being sought against a Ali Mubeen, also for providing false information to the commission.

The anti-corruption watchdog also noted that the “payment received” receipt provided by Mahloof does not prove a currency exchange transaction. It said that the USD 33,000 was transferred to Mahloof’s account by SoF on 27th August 2014, following which he returned to the Maldives from Malaysia to take part in the parliament’s Special Economic Zone vote.

Noting that Mahloof had voted in the government’s favour, ACC said that after cross-checking the dates and exchanges between Mahloof and then Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb following the vote, that the investigation shows that Adeeb had given the USD 33,000 to Mahloof as a bribe.

Mahloof, at the time of the transaction, was a lawmaker aligned with then ruling Progressive Party of Maldives, led by former President Abdulla Yameen.

He has been suspended once again on Wednesday, until a decision by the prosecutor general over the ACC request.