Motion seeking dismissal of ACC members submitted at Majlis committee

A motion seeking to dismiss five members of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has been submitted at the People’s Majlis committee on independent institutions.

The motion was submitted by MP for Inguraidhoo constituency, Hassan Mohamed during a committee meeting held on Tuesday.

MP Hassan revealed that the motion was provoked by negligence observed on the ACC's end on multiple occasions.

As such, the parliamentarian stressed that since their appointment, the members have failed to run adequate investigations into the numerous cases of corruption and theft that have taken place.

A lawmaker has filed such a motion at the time the corruption watchdog has been accused of negligence and poor investigative work.

During a previous meeting of the committee on independent institutions, Mariyam Shiuna, President of ACC refuted these claims, saying that cases sent for prosecution were not returned due to poor investigative work.

Complaints of ACC’s negligence began surfacing after the PGO sent back cases seeking charges against two former finance ministers and a deputy tourism minister, part of convicted former president Yameen's government, saying the investigations were incomplete. Shiuna stressed that they had engaged in discussions with the PGO on several occasions in connection to the case and that the case was concluded under the instructions and recommendations from the PGO.

One other such case returned due to incomplete investigations is the ventilator issue regarding the government’s Covid-19 expenditure, where charges where sought against 11 officials at the Health Ministry. The case was declined and PGO had decided against pressing charges on Tuesday.

According to the parliament guidelines, committees are required to notify the Majlis Speaker, Mohamed Nasheed should they see fit to dismiss officials. Dismissals will only be passed through a Majlis vote after the committee report is compiled on the matter.