The ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM)’s Parliamentary Group has refused to answer a questioned posed by a RaajjeMV’s reporter on whether the government-proposed bill to amend the section on bribery in the penal code includes one that will make acquiring illegitimate wealth a crime.
This was at a press conference that was held following public condemnation over the bill proposed by pro-government representative of Feydhoo constituency Ibrahim Didi to eliminate the punishment stated in the penal code for the offense of bribery.
A second amendment bill regarding the same issue was proposed by Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla had on Tuesday. The ruling party stated that the new bill is an addition to their first amendment bill to make bribery a non-criminal offense in order to add a subsection defining what the offense of bribery is.
At Tuesday’s press conference hosted by the ruling party’s Parliamentary Group, RaajjeMV’s reporter asked whether any amendment that allows charges to be raised on those who acquire wealth illegitimately had been mentioned in the new bill.
The reason the station’s reporter posed the question to the PG group was because the Parliament had refused to formulate a bill to punish those who acquire wealth illegally, despite the request from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), when they passed the penal code at the 17th People’s Majlis.
When RaajjeMV had directed its question towards PG leader Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik, he had nodded his head in agreement, and said that they had been included in the newly proposed amendment bill. However, his answer had detailed the section of the penal code which states that state employees accepting bribes is a criminal offense. Nihan had failed to mention the part where illegitimate wealth would be included..
When RaajjeMV’s reporter had repeated the question to MP Raheem as well, he had directed verbal attacks towards the reporter in infuriation.
“I have heard that PPM members do not do things the way RaajjeTV lot does. I’m having to say this when things have gotten personal. You [RaajjeTV] need to work within a certain boundary” said an enraged Raheem.
While the government is refusing to declare illegitimate wealth as a criminal offense, PG leader Nihan and MP Raheem have been accused of obtaining their wealth illegally.
As such, Raheem had purchased flats from the Rehendhi Residencie-6 constructed in capital city Male’ for his wife Dhiyana Hussain. The cost of the flats reaches MVR 9 million.
Moreover, PG Leader Nihan had purchased a luxurious flat from Platinum Residencies in Hulhumale’ worth MVR 4.7 million, for his son Mohamed Alhan.
