Niyaz Ibrahim, the former auditor general and whistleblower on one of the largest corruption scandals in Maldivian history, has questioned a recent government decision on declaring gifts received by individuals in political office.
While those who hold political office were previously required to declare and hand over gifts they receive to an appointee of the President’s Office, the government last week decided that the gifts be handed over to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the statutory corruption watchdog.
However, Niyaz took to Twitter to say that treasury should be the ‘custodian’ of such gifts and that allowing it to hold such property undermines the independence of the ACC; Niyaz said that ‘public oversight agencies should not be assigned with executive responsibilities’.
Public oversight agencies should not be assigned with executive responsibilities. Treasury should be the custodian of Pmoney & other assets including those received by P office bearers. ACC should minimize threats to their independence. Believe gov will review it's decision. pic.twitter.com/wTfmoqTcvT
— Niyaz Ibrahim (@niyaz_ibrahim) January 4, 2019
The decision received from some anti-corruption activists say that such gifts should be a matter of public knowledge and investigated by the ACC, so long as the commission is not given ‘ownership’ of the property.
The point is that such "presents" should be well documented and investigated. I believe an independent body like the ACC is the best institution to carry such an effort. Not the treasury!
— Ameer Dawood (@ameer1234567890) January 5, 2019
Declaration and handing over of gifts received by individuals in their capacity as political representatives of the state is mandatory under the Prevention and Prohibition of Corruption Act.
