Ventilator corruption case sent for review to PGO
26 އޮކްޓޯބަރު 2020 | ހޯމަ 05:21ACC claims that there is enough evidence for prosecution
A meeting of the majlis committee on independent institutions
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has sought from the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) to review its decision against pressing charges in the case regarding the ventilator scandal.
The corruption watchdog sought from PGO to review the case on Sunday.
ACC requested for the decision to be reviewed as investigations found enough evidence that government officials had worked to acquire undue benefits, against the country’s laws.
Earlier, PG Hussain Shameem had revealed that the case was declined citing insufficient evidence, having later stated that the case was forwarded for prosecution without completing the duty prosecution stage. This was highlighted during a meeting with the parliamentary committee on independent institutions.
However, Shameem noted that he does not believe ACC was hasty to conclude the investigation regarding the major corruption involving the procurement of ventilators through Dubai-based Executors General Trading in support of the government’s response efforts against the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Responding to the PG’s claims, ACC President Mariyam Shiuna stated that duty prosecution is not mandated under the Maldivian laws and that it is a practice. She stressed that having to complete duty prosecution paves delays in investigation.
The Ministry of Health initially contracted Executors General Trading based in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, to deliver 75 ventilators during March 2020. The contract was worth MVR 34.50 million and there were reports of wrongdoings in the ministry’s expenses for the project, according to a special audit report following which the corruption watchdog and Maldives Police Service (MPS) investigated, followed by the PGO.
ACC sought charges against 11 ministry officials including the minister after concluding investigations, however, PGO declined the case and decided against pressing charges on October 20. PG Shameem had revealed that although there were administrative issues, ultimately the PGO will seek evidence in order to raise charges, adding that said administrative wrongdoings have raised the question whether the ministry officials had acted responsibly.
