‘Misuse of official capacity’ complaint lodged against transport minister
The case was submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission, with 70 signatures
Transport Minister, Aishath Nahula
A complaint against Transport Minister Aishath Nahula has been submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The case, submitted with 70 signatures, claims that the minister had used undue influence to reverse a regulation related to the operations of shipping agencies.
The corruption watchdog has confirmed that a case against the transport minister was lodged on Monday night, by a third party.
While the regulations for shipping agencies was published on the government gazette on July 16, it was nullified on September 16.
RaajjeMV has obtained a copy of the letter addressed to ACC President Mariyam Shauna, which states that while the agencies followed the regulation after it was published in the gazette, that the ministry had failed to take any action to implement it.
While the regulation states that the transport ministry is tasked with monitoring sea transportation, the letter claims that Nahula had informed the ministry’s board of the decision to repeal the regulation through an internal memo. The board members are to have repeatedly informed her that the regulation needed to implemented.
Article 14 of the Transport Authority Act states that the board must compile policies for the implementation of such regulations. The Act does not allow the minister to nullify laws and regulations without a decision by the board.
Hence, the letter noted that the shipping agencies’ operations regulation was reversed without the required approval from the board, and emaphaszied that this shows that the minister had misused her official capacity to gain undue advantage.
