Anti-Corruption Commission reinstated

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has been reinstated.

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih reconstituted the commission on Thursday.

Five members were appointed during a ceremony held at the President’s Office, where the oath of office was administered to the new appointees by Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan.

The appointed members are Adam Shamil, Abdul Salaam, Thoha Mohamed, Shazna Hashim and Shiyama Mohamed.

Prior to being appointed as a new member of ACC, Shamil, who holds a Master of Laws from the Maldives National University (MNU), served as the Director of Investigation and Legal Department at the Children’s Ombudspersons Office.

Further, Salaam, who has a Bachelor of Shariah and Law from MNU previously served as a Senior Investigation Officer at the ACC.

Having previously served as a member of the President’s Committee Investigating Public Housing Schemes as well as a Partner and Senior Legal Counsel at the Litigants LLP, Thoha has a Bachelor of Shariah and Law from MNU.

Shazna attained her Bachelor of Science in Commerce (Accounting) from Al-Azhar University, Egypt and earlier held the position of Director of Finance at the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

In addition to this, holder of Master of Shari’ah from Villa College, Shiyama earlier served as the Deputy Director at the Elections Commission (EC).

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

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

As such, the law mandates members to “possess the educational qualifications, experience and recognized competence necessary to discharge the functions of the commission”. Members of the commission shall also 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.