Minister Mahloof, State Minister Akram relieved from suspension

The suspension of Youth Minister Ahmed Mahloof and State Minister Akram Kamaaluddin over an investigation report published by the Anti-Corruption Commission, has been lifted.

Ibrahim Hood, spokesperson at the President’s Office confirmed this to RaajjeMV on Tuesday.

The minister himself has responded to the decision, guaranteeing exoneration from the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Maldives Police Service and thanking President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s decision to lift the suspension.

Minister Mahloof was suspended in February following the release of the 776-page report, which names several prominent businessmen, parliamentarians, and politicians.

The report states Mahloof as having received USD 33,000 from Scores of Flair, the private company to which millions of dollars were funneled out of the state-run Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation, embezzlement involving island and lagoon lease deals.

Mahloof took to his Twitter account to defend himself, where he shared a receipt for currency exchange, and said that the funds deposited to his account was the result of a legitimate transaction.

In his tweet, Mahloof also attached a copy of a letter he sent to the corruption watchdog which provided further details into the transaction.

The minister was, at the time of the transaction, a lawmaker aligned with the Progressive Party of Maldives, led by former president Abdulla Yameen, who is now facing criminal indictment for money laundering charges.

Akram, state minister at the Ministry of Planning and Infrastructure, was named to have received USD 30,000.