The Presidential Commission on Corruption and State Asset Recovery has summoned and questioned former MP for Villimalé constituency, Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik, regarding the largest case of graft involving the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC).
Sources report that the ex-parliamentarian was summoned for questioning on Thursday.
He had been questioned regarding the MMPRC embezzlement as well as his apartment in Hulhumalé.
Nihan is to have requested for an opportunity to appoint legal representation for the investigation and some local news outlets have reported that he was granted the request, following which investigations were pushed back.
The ex-MP did not directly respond to inquiries regarding the matter, by RaajjeMV.
This came a day after the presidential commission revealed that they have discovered additional scams linked to the Ministry of Tourism, in its investigations into the MMPRC embezzlement.
During a meeting of the parliamentary committee on independent institutions on Wednesday, the inquiry commission’s president, Ahmed Assad revealed the ministry having leased 12 lagoons and 37 islands in violation of the Tourism Act, is a major legal issue itself.
The commission had found major issues that could hinder the purpose of the investigation and further investigations are currently underway, said Assad.
The commission earlier revealed that 44 parliamentarians of the 18th parliament received the embezzled funds and a case regarding the luxury apartment Nihan purchased in Hulhumalé, was lodged at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) earlier.
The ex-MP is to have asserted that he bought the MVR 4.7 million apartment with his legally earned income. Nihan is accused of having amassed his wealth unlawfully, which he dismissed.
The Presidential Commission on Corruption and State Asset Recovery was established on November 17, 2018 and is tasked with recuperating state assets lost from January 1, 2012 to November 17, 2018, and to ensure that all responsible authorities carry out their legal duties in investigating corruption and abuse of power within state and government institutions.
