ACC denies hiding facts in MMPRC embezzlement case

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has denied leaving out information in their investigative report of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) embezzlement case.

In a press release on Monday, ACC urged people to refrain from describing its report as incomplete.

In the press release, ACC stated that the MMPRC case was filed at the Prosecutor General’s office but the court only gave a guilty verdict over the lease of Lh. Maabin Huraa only, and that the ACC can only retrieve the state’s stolen assets and funds after a court conviction.

ACC stated that it took upon itself to investigate MMPRC for leasing islands for tourism, after finding out that bribery and embezzlement are involved, but that it is not legally required to publicize its investigative report.

In the press release, ACC stated that it conducted its independent investigation according to procedure and that there was no reason to question the trustworthiness of those involved in the investigation, adding that it had not received information that any ACC member of their families received money from MMPRC.

ACC stated that it has also decided to forward a separate case to charge individuals responsible for stopping a probe regarding a Suspicious Transactions Report received by the Financial Intelligence Unit, which showed that money-laundering was involved between MMPRC and Scores of Flair (SoF), the company used to launder the embezzled money.

ACC stated that they have also forwarded a case to the PG, in relation to then-tourism minister using MMPRC to obtain USD 5 million from Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) to give to another party, and taking out USD 1 million from MTDC and giving it to a company that the minister has a stake in.

ACC also stated that it had, in 19 March 2018, raised points of concern and requested the MMPRC and the tourism ministry to make amendments and provide compensation to the state after MMPRC unlawfully leased Nasandhra Palace Hotel for 50 years.

ACC highlighted that it has not accused everyone that had made dollar transfers with SoF as participants of the MMPRC embezzlement.

Highlighting that ACC can only find out where the laundered money when to after a joint investigation with the police service, ACC stated that the failure to conduct the joint investigation is the reason why there is not a more thorough investigation of the MMPRC embezzlement case.