The imprisonment of Bank of Maldives (BML) Nilandhoo branch manager Gasim Abdul Kareem emphasized the importance of a law to protect whistleblowers, says North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla, who had proposed the Whistleblower Protection Bill.

At Wednesday’s sitting, MP Eva highlighted Gasim’s role in revealing SoF company’s involvement in the biggest embezzlement scandal in Maldives’ history, the Maldives Marketing and Public Relation Corporation (MMPRC) case, and said that whistleblowers have to face the fear of unemployment or imprisonment.

Also at the sitting, North Maafannu MP Imthiyaz Fahmy said that Gasim deserves compensation and to have his criminal record cleared, since he was jailed for months without a charge or trial. MP Fahmy praised Gasim for what he did for the public good and said that he had revealed the previous government’s corruption in a dangerous environment.

West Henveiru MP Hassan Latheef suggested that a point be added for whistleblowing sexual harassment in the work place, highlighting that it is a common problem which is already being investigated by parliament committees.

The Whistleblower Protection Bill proposes to establish laws that would empower and protect whistleblowers and investigate their claims.

It defines whistleblowing as exposing acts of corruption and criminal behavior, acts that violate international human rights laws, dangers to public health and the environment, state graft, miscarriages of justice, and mismanagement or misuse of resources.

The bill states that whistleblowers are to be protected from civil and criminal lawsuits, administrative action, and have their personal information kept hidden. Revealing a whistleblower’s personal information will result in a sentence of three months to five years.