The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will not take position and political belief into consideration when taking action against those found guilty of corruption, says ACC President, Mariyam Shiuna.
The president of ACC made this assertion in an address on the occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day, marked on December 9.
Highlighting that the commission has been receiving cases of corruption despite the country being locked in a fierce battle against the ongoing global Covid-19 pandemic, Shiuna stressed that there are people who wouldn’t back down from corrupt practices even in the face of a crisis.
Shiuna stated that the most important lesson brought into the spotlight due to the pandemic is that there are individuals who would still conduct acts of corruption and willingly submit to illegal benefits through the people’s money.
The country has also observed new techniques in carrying out acts of corruption, of recent, Shiuna stressed.
The corruption watchdog’s president revealed that 34 cases relating to corruption within several state institutions in providing services throughout the pandemic, were received.
Stating that those serving in responsible and high-ranking positions of the state must be held accountable to the people if they believe such times of crisis must be used to gain undue benefits and illegal wealth.
Shiuna stated that ACC aims to take action against such individuals without considering their positions or political belief, under the legal mandate.
The biggest case of corruption that made the spotlight during the pandemic was the ventilator scandal.
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 more evidence in order to raise criminal charges, adding that said administrative wrongdoings have raised the question whether the ministry officials had acted responsibly.
The People’s Majlis has since voted to seek charges against the former health minister, Abdulla Ameen.
