MDP does not want to be associated with a thieving government: Speaker Nasheed
PGO maintains that they will still be seeking charges in this case once the money trail is established
NASHEEDH
Former President and Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Nasheed has expressed disappointment in the lack of progress to prosecute suspects in the ventilator corruption case, declaring that the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) does not want to be associated with a thieving government.
Speaker Nasheed made the remarks after the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) had declined to pursue charges against former Health Minister Abdulla Ameen and 11 others in the ventilator corruption case, citing lack of evidence. Speaker Nasheed stated that it would be a huge loss to the Maldivian people if the case was swept over as usual, and that it would make the public believe that the incumbent administration had a hand in protecting those guilty of the fraud.
Speaker Nasheed went on to say that he would not back down until the ventilator corruption case was resolved, and declared that MDP does not want to be associated with a thieving government.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had discovered inconsistencies in paying MVR 30 million for 75 ventilators for Covid-19 patients on behalf of the state, in addition to suspected corruption in the acquisition and transport of the equipment as well.
While the PGO had previously declined to pursue charges in this case, Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem has since declared that the PGO will still be seeking charges if the money trail is established in order to identify which account the embezzled funds had been transferred to. Speaking on Raajje TV's "Fashaa Iru" programme, PG Shameem had stated that the investigations of the PGO, ACC and Police had yet to yield answers as to which account the embezzled funds had been transferred.
PG Shameem remarked that there was a difference between having enough evidence to prosecute, and having enough evidence to secure convictions in a case at court. He added that there might be negative repercussions if they attempted to prosecute without securing enough evidence to confidently convict suspects.
Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem went on to assure that the PGO would be seeking charges in this case once more if the money trail is established, or if enough evidence in uncovered to secure convictions in this case.
The Ministry of Health had signed an agreement with Dubai's Executors General Trading in order to acquire 75 ventilators for Covid-19 patients. While the company had only delivered 15 ventilators to the Maldives, the Health Ministry had issued MVR 30.91 million to them without a prior guarantee when the agreement was initially made.
