Fayyaz slams ACC summons as politically motivated, procedurally flawed

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail has sharply criticized the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) following his appearance at the commission on Monday, describing the summons as politically driven and lacking procedural integrity.

According to Fayyaz, ACC summoned him without completing the necessary documentation for the investigation. He suggested that even members of the commission appeared uncomfortable with the situation, implying that the move was forced and not independently initiated. His remarks point to what he characterizes as an increasingly politicized atmosphere surrounding ACC’s recent activities.

Fayyaz was summoned in relation to allegations of authorizing unreasonable compensation to Swift Engineering Private Limited during his tenure as a member of the Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee in 2019. The claim suggests that he misused his official position to benefit the company at the expense of the state. However, Fayyaz maintains there is no legitimate basis for the investigation, labeling the accusations as baseless.

He further alleged that the inquiry is being conducted under external pressure, driven by political interests rather than legal merit. The manner of the summons, he said, only reinforced concerns about the commission's lack of independence and the influence of political directives over its operations.

Beyond criticizing ACC’s process, Fayyaz framed the investigation as part of a broader campaign of intimidation targeting MDP ahead of its rally planned to take place on November 17. According to the party, there is a coordinated effort to summon or implicate key opposition figures in various cases in an attempt to disrupt political momentum and suppress dissent.

While some former officials from the previous administration have also been called in for questioning, MDP has argued that the focus on politically active members indicates a deliberate strategy to stifle opposition leadership. The party has condemned the current administration for what it sees as weaponizing state institutions against its political rivals.

Fayyaz’s appearance at ACC, which lasted over 90 minutes, ended with a public address in which he called for political mobilization and resistance. MDP continues to maintain that ACC's actions, including the summons of several high-profile members, are not about justice or accountability, but a calculated attempt to silence the opposition ahead of a key political demonstration.