Charges filed against two for permitting food imports without mandatory health certificates
PG Office submitted charges on December 3, 2025
Building housing the Ministry of Health
The Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office) has requested the Criminal Court to prosecute two employees accused of authorizing food imports into the Maldives without the health certificates required by law.
The PG Office revealed that charges were submitted on 3 December 2025, concerning allegations that several field officers of the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA), assigned to port clearance, approved shipments of food brought into the country by sea and air during March 2025 despite the absence of mandatory health documentation.
Regarding Ahmed Hashim (Registry RS9244):
Three counts of official misconduct under Article 512(a) of Law No. 9/2014 (Maldives Penal Code).
Regarding Ahmed Zahir (Arafaath, Thimarafushi, GDh. Thinadhoo):
Three counts of official misconduct under Article 512(a) of Law No. 9/2014 (Maldives Penal Code).
Penalty: 4 months and 24 days for each charge.
The PG Office noted that the accused individuals had sought to enter into a plea agreement. However, because the offense directly concerns the safety and security of food in the Maldives, and given that the actions taken were in violation of laws and regulations designed to safeguard food safety and security, the office determined, after assessing public interest, not to pursue a plea agreement.
