34 applications have been received for vacancies at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of the Maldives.

ACC members; President Mariyam Shauna, Vice President Fathmath Anoola and member Aishath Abdulla resigned altogether on 27 December 2021.

Prior to this, members Ibrahim Shakeel and Ali Ashraf had also resigned amid a move to dismiss members found to underperforming following a review by the Independent Institutions Committee of the People’s Majlis back in November 2021.

The deadline for the application window expired at the end of January 2022 and RaajjeMV understands that a total of 34 persons had submitted applications in the period.

The names are yet to be forwarded for parliamentary approval by the People’s Majlis. A reliable source has confirmed to RaajjeMV that this will be done soon.

At a time the commission has been left with vacant positions, a number of cases are being submitted to the commission. As such, a total of 58 cases were submitted by January 27, with which unprobed cases are piling up.

Currently ongoing at the commission is only administrative work.

The law mandates to appoint new members within 60 days of an ACC seat becoming vacant.

Members will be appointed by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih after they are approved by the People’s Majlis and shall be qualified as per the Maldives constitution.

As such, members must “possess the educational qualifications, experience and recognized competence necessary to discharge the functions of the commission”. Members of the commission shall not engage in any other employment, reads the constitution.

As an independent and impartial institution, ACC must perform its duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Constitution and any laws enacted by the parliament, and its work mainly revolves around preventing and combating corruption within all activities of the state without “fear” and intimidation.