MP Saud summoned to ACC over abuse of power allegations

MP for Villingilli constituency Saud Hussain was summoned to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Sunday, where he was questioned over abusing power while serving as the president of the Villingilli Council.

After leaving the ACC on Sunday afternoon, the parliamentarian said that he was summoned and questioned over allegations of abuse of power while serving as the council president, and denied the allegations.

Noting that he was asked to go in with a lawyer, Saud added that the lawyer was not given the opportunity to speak today, due to an issue at the Commission. He added that he had given a statement today.

Saud was elected to the Villingilli council for the first term following the introduction of the Decentralization Act, and had served in the council for a period of three years. The current council members were elected in May.

While Saud was summoned to the ACC, Maldives Police Service is investigating a case allegedly involving the lawmaker. He was previously summoned to police on allegation that he had attempted to assassinate High Court Judge Shujau Usman. Former senior policy executive at the Ministry of Education, Ibrahim Haneef was arrested in connection to the case.

MP Saud, who was previously affiliated with President Abdulla Yameen's faction of the now-divided Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) started getting the summons after he revoked his support for the government, pledging his alliance to the opposition's reform movement in April.

He was last summoned to the police on June 24, following which he had said that he was summoned on "baseless allegations," adding that he did not believe the case will be sent for prosecution.