No bias in case against Sports Minister, says PG

Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem has said that his Office has no bias in the case forwarded against Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof.

During a press conference held on Sunday, the PG was questioned on why the case is being handled in a “special” manner, to which he said that he does not look into individual people but that he is provided “a number and if the number matches we move forward, if not we do not”.

Shameem said that the fact that he had pressed charges against his own brother is proof that he will not block a prosecution adding that he is not looking to press charges against those that do not deserve it either.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) completed its probe into the allegations against Mahloof in relation to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption scandal and forwarded the case for prosecution on June 9. He was placed under suspension right away, until the PG reaches a decision to prosecute or not.

However, Mahloof notes that this is unlawful as the MMPRC scandal is being investigated by the presidential commission on asset recovery which was established due to police and ACC’s tardiness in completing the investigation.

Further, this is not the first time charges were sought against the minister in relation to the country’s largest corruption scandal in history. While Mahloof was in the list of benefactors released in early 2019, he was cleared by the police and the asset recovery commission shortly after.

While there were recent reports that the PG Office had rejected the case, the Office said that they had asked to complete and amend some documentations required for a court case.

Shameem said such incidences are normal and assured that there is no special treatment in Mahloof’s case.

The sports minister denies any wrongdoing, claiming that the money being accused as bribery was deposited to his account under a currency exchange deal. However, ACC said that its investigation shows that the money was obtained to vote in favour a bill forwarded to the parliament by the government.

While Mahloof was a member of then-ruling party, the minister said that he had voted as per a three-line whip issued by the party.

In a tweet showing his frustrations following reports of the case being sent back, Mahloof called for the resignation of the ACC president saying he was “not a ball to be tossed around”.