Former Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA)’s Deputy Governor Neeza Imad has denied recent statements made by senior officials of Bank of Maldives (BML).
At a parliamentary committee meeting over the MMPRC embezzlement case on Tuesday, BML’s senior officials said that Neeza was one of the officials of MMA who had recommended that BML allow transactions involving SoF, the company involved in the embezzlement, despite the suspicious transaction report.
In a press release, Neeza denied recommending that BML allow transactions between MMPRC and SoF and said that she had not advised the bank on such a case.
Neeza said she has already given information to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) regarding the case and is ready to assist any further investigation.
At Tuesday’s committee meeting, BML’s Interim Risk Officer Yameen Adam said SoF began making suspicious transactions on 25 November 2014 and that the bank had held the account and submitted eight Suspicious Transaction Reports. However, he said that the interim head of FIU, MMA Deputy Governor Neeza Imad, had recommended BML to release the account and allow the transactions.
Neeza had resigned as MMA Deputy Governor during former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration after Yameen nominated her for the position of Governor and then withdrew her name. She is currently the State Minister of Economic Affairs.