Political appointees are now required to hand over the gifts they receive to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The amendment was made to the regulation on political advisors not appointed by the president, enacted during Dr. Mohamed Waheed’s administration.

The amendment, publicized in Thursday’s gazette, states that it is a crime for government employees to accept gifts, since it would threaten their integrity and trustworthiness. If someone offers a gift, the employee is required to hand it over to the ACC, as dictated in article 16 of the Law on Prevention and Prohibition of Corruption.

Before the amendment, the gifts were to be delivered to a person decided by the president or to the President’s Office.

Another amendment states that appointees, who have used their 30-day yearly leave, are allowed to take an unpaid leave even if the need to take the leave is not for a family emergency or due to illness, but only after a request is send to the President’s Office via letter and the president approves it.

Restricting political appointees from abusing their position by accepting gifts or taking undeserved leaves of absence are according to the new government’s drive to eliminate corruption.