Transparency Maldives has slammed the companies named in the investigation report, published by of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), on the corruption scandal of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC).
Speaking on a programme aired on PSM News, Senior Programme Coordinator at Transparency Maldives Ahmed Tholal stated it is a responsibility of all companies to be responsible when conducting transactions such as currency exchange with a company that does not have necessary permits to conduct such transactions. Noting the companies are revealing they conducted legitimate transactions, Tholal said Maldivians were made aware of the corruption connections between SOF Private Limited and MMPRC in 2015.
Tholal stated the companies have a responsibility to make sure the transactions are not illegal, highlighting it is very irresponsible of the companies to say they conducted legitimate transactions, following the publication of the ACC report. Furthermore, Tholal questioned why the publishing was postponed, after the investigative report was compiled two years ago, adding there is a possibility to believe the members of ACC were influenced.
The accounts which received funds from SOF include current Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof and State Minister Akram Kamaaluddin. Following the report, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has ordered them to stay home until the end of the investigation.
Moreover, many parliamentarians and family members of senior figures of the government were deposited large amounts of cash as part of the corruption scandal. Meanwhile, some people have accused the ACC report is incomplete as it does not include some key names involved in the corruption scandal. Moreover, others have accused the corruption funds were deposited to members of ACC and their families.
The report submitted on ACC website shows investigation on 57 islands, further highlighting the acquisition cost of the islands were deposited to other bank accounts after endorsing checks rather than depositing it to the bank account of MMPRC. Following the publication of the ACC report, many companies have begun justifying their transactions with SOF.