Maldives Broadcasting Commission (MBC)’s President, having admitted that the commission has not been fair in their investigations into defamation complaints, stated that the members themselves know how much political influence has taken over them.

MBC President made this statement at a press conference held on Thursday in commemoration of broadcasting day, also highlighting that while investigations are being carried out by the board of members, only the members of the commission themselves, will know if they’ve been politically influenced.

Shaheeb asserted that he himself, has not been swayed by political influence thus far.

When asked why the commission does not hesitate to look into the issues of other broadcasters defaming former Presidents and some political leaders while private broadcaster RaajjeTV has been slapped with defamation fines on four different occasions, and has paid a total of MVR 3.7 since the introduction of the anti-defamation law in 2016, Shaheeb confessed that he himself does not believe commission procedures are followed through fairly.

“There are discrepancies in the way the commission looks into defamation cases. Some of the cases were ones initiated by the commission and members themselves. Only they themselves will know to comment on their independency to conduct investigations without swaying on either side. I can assure everyone that I have thus far, not been influenced by any political party” said Shaheeb.

Shaheeb also admitted that he believes investigations must be carried out more transparently if they are an initiation by commission members themselves.

“I believe the commission should not target just one broadcaster. They must carry out investigation fairly without leaning on either side. I believe if the commission carries out their investigations fairly, this question would not arise today” said Shaheeb.

While RaajjeTV has been fined on separate occasions on allegations of defaming the outgoing President Abdulla Yameen, they had been imposed following speeches or statements made by political leaders at political gatherings which the channel had broadcasted.

However, when other broadcasters had aired reports that defame former Presidents Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and Mohamed Nasheed, as well as other political leaders, the commission had noticeably turned a deaf ear and blind eye to them.