Male’, Maldives – The Prosecutor General’s Office on Monday, has charged Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF)’s former Chief of Defence Force Major General Ahmed Shiyam with misuse of authority.
According to the PG Office, Shiyam was charged under Section 513 of the Maldives Penal Code for accommodating his father at MNDF’s VIP facility in Vilimale’ for a period of one year, four months and 24 days, as well as assigning his care to a private officer.
Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem instructed the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to reopen the investigation concerning Shiyam in August 2020, after an anonymous individual lodged a complaint with the Maldives Police Service concerning the accommodation of Shiyam’s father Ibrahim Shakir at MNDF’s VIP facility while receiving medical treatment.
ACC had earlier closed the case concerning the matter after ruling that there was no evidence of corruption or wrongdoing, highlighting that the VIP facility was used at the discretion of the Chief of Defence Force, Vice-Chief of Defence Force, and the Coastguard Commander.
In a later statement, ACC noted that it would not be permissible to accommodate civilians at the VIP facility since is part of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and is considered military property.
