While reports have surfaced that Sports Minister, Ahmed Mahloof, is being charged in relation to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) embezzlement, the Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office has denied receiving a case related to Mahloof.

Some local media outlets have reported that the minister is being charged in the case.

However, an official from the PG Office told RaajjeMV that they have yet to receive any requests to raise charges against the sports minister in relation to the MMPRC corruption.

While RaajjeMV understands that the MMPRC investigation is still ongoing, the PG Office official assured that the public will be informed of the progress of the case given the immense public interest.

The official further urged media outlets to refrain from publishing fake news.

As per local reports, authorities plan to “sacrifice” Mahloof “to show the impartiality in the investigation”.

The MMPRC corruption scandal is the largest corruption case recorded in Maldivian history. According to the incumbent administration, over MVR 3.3 billion acquired via the leasing of islands and lagoons for tourism purposes was embezzled through MMPRC, during the previous government.

While a 700-page report publicized by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) identified 155 individuals who received the funds, the agency in October listed 267 people as beneficiaries in the embezzlement.

Mahloof was suspended following this report in February 2019, as his name was among the several prominent businessmen, parliamentarians, and politicians.

While the report states that Mahloof had received USD 33,000 from Scores of Flair, the private company used to embezzle millions of dollars through the state, Mahloof maintained that his dealings with the company were innocent.

As such, Mahloof had said that the funds deposited to his account was the result of a legitimate transaction and shared receipts of the transactions.

He was relieved from suspension in April 2019.