Malé, Maldives – Former Vice President of Maldives Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed has said that the Prosecutor General, Hussain Shameem’s only responsibility is to prosecute Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
In a tweet Dr Jameel posted following the PG’s decision on not to go ahead with the prosecution of the 11 people including former Health Minister, Ameen on the corruption charges related to the 75 ventilators with the expenditure of over MVR 30 million in violation of the Public Finance Act.
Dr Jameel also accused of Prosecutor Generals Office being a division of Presidents Office and added that the case must be prosecuted.
Anti Corruptions Commission of Maldives (ACC) had revealed yesterday that Prosecutor General has decided not to go ahead with the prosecution of the people alleged for the corruption involved in the awarding of contracts by the Ministry of Health to procure ventilators for the state.
The issue was investigated by ACC after an audit by the Auditor General’s Office suggested foul play in all three contracts awarded by the Ministery of Health, to procure 142 ventilators for the state. These include the agreements made between Executors General Trading LLC for 75 ventilators, MedTech Maldives Pvt Ltd for 50 ventilators and with Naadu Pvt Ltd to acquire 24 ventilators, out of which the agreement with Executors General which became the most controversial of all.
ACC had forwarded 11 names, including that of Minister Ameen, to the Prosecutor General’s Office to be charged with corruption under part (a)(2) of section 511, part (a) of section 512, part (b) of section 513 and part (a)(1) of section 313 of the Penal Code of Maldives. However, PGO revealed that due to insufficient evidence they have taken the decision to not prosecute any of the 11 individuals and sent back the report regarding ventilator corruption back to ACC.
According to ACC, PG had decided to uphold their earlier decision and not to go ahead with the prosecution stating that there was no new reason for changing PGs earlier stance on the case.
Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) had previously responded to the claims of the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) saying that the prosecution request was made with sufficient evidence.
Among those who were requested by ACC to be prosecuted under part (a)(2) of section 511, part (a) of section 512, part (b) of section 513 and part (a)(1) of section 313 of the Penal Code of Maldives, are;
- Minister Abdullah Ameen
- Director Financial Executive Ahmed Aslam
- Deputy Minister Nishama Mohamed
- Deputy Minister Shiyama Mohamed
- Director Naushad Ali
- Bid Committee Member Aminath Shaufa
- Assistant Director Fathimath Limya
- Legal Officer Ali Shihaam
- Assistant Director Abdullah Hafeez, and
- Assistant Administrative officer Hussain Niyazk
Detailing the accusations, it was highlighted that it was Minister Ameen who introduced the owner of Executors General Dr. Ali Al Thakhumathee to the Ministry and that it was the Minister himself who initiated the handing over of the contract to the company.
