ACC probes Home Ministry, Umar Naseer responds

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) staff have on Monday entered the Ministry of Home Affairs to acquire documents over a corruption investigation involving former minister Umar Naseer.

The ACC is probing allegations of fund misappropriation in the celebratory activities for Maldives’ 50th year since its independence, held under the name Minivan 50 in 2015, which Umar Naseer presided over as Home Minister.

ACC has previously revealed that the ministry had neglected to abide by its request to disclose documents relevant to the investigation.

The commission had also pursued a case against Mohamed Hussein Shareef, a former minister at the President’s Office, for having hired New Port, a coffee shop opened in 2014, to provide catering services at an event held under the Minivan 50 banner.

The case was dismissed after it entered the Prosecutor General’s office over reported lack of evidence. The ACC claimed that the Ministry had hired a business that had little experience in catering to events with no evidence to suggest that a screening was done.

Umar Naseer’s Response

Naseer, who has been public about his aspirations for presidency since 2008, responded to news of the investigation through a tweet.

He has maintained that he would contest the 2018 elections through a ticket from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).

While Naseer has consistently stated he would contest the 2018 Presidential Elections, he previously intended to do so on a PPM ticket.

In February, Naseer had flown to London to meet former Vice President Mohamed Jameel and other members of the MUO (Maldives United Opposition). The MUO is a joint opposition effort between MDP (Maldivian Democratic Party), AP (Adhaalath Party), JP (Jumhooree Party) and former senior members of government.