MMPRC Corruption: Sports Minister Mahloof to be prosecuted

Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof | Photo: Sun

Male’, Maldives —The list sent by the Asset Recovery Commission to the Parliament has revealed that the investigation against Youth Minister of Maldives, Ahmed Mahloof has been finished and that the case is in process to be sent to PGO Minister Mahloof.

While the Asset Recovery Commission has decided to prosecute Minister Mahloof for being involved in the corruption scandal, as this is a joint investigation, sources inform that it has been days since the Commission had sent the matter to the Police, according to local news “Adhadhu”.

While information that was previously leaked reveals that Minister Mahloof recieved USD 33,000 from the MMPRC scandal, he had earlier denied of wrongdoings and stated that it was money taken to purchase dollar and that he was not aware that the money was part of the corruption.

I don’t have to steal USD 33,000. I’ll say this very clearly that even the political leaders will be well aware that USD 33,000 is not something I need to steal.

Minister Mahloof, regarding MMPRC corruption.

Mahloof stated that he was among the firsts to call on to investigate the MMPRC matter and that he is not involved in this corruption activity.

While Minister Mahloof has been confirmed to be included in the list of those involved in the MMPRC scandal, the Joint Committee report made in collaboration with the National Security Services committee (commonly known as 241 committee) and Judiciary committee regarding the major MMPRC corruption case has been passed to terminate the employees who are working in state positions if they are accused of being a part of the MMPRC corruption.

Some of the things presented by the Committee includes of a request to the Asset Recovery Commission to fasten the work as some of the people who are being accused of this scandal are considered to be influential people. Along with this, the Committee also urged the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) members and professional equipment to investigate the matter.

Documents revealed by the parliament regarding the Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption case investigation has revealed that Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) leaders have been implicated in the case along with opposition.

The list had names of people suspected of benefiting from the largest corruption scandal in the country and that people who used to work and some who are still working in the security forces, judiciary, independent institutions and as parliamentarians were implicated in the scandal. 

It also revealed that people who stole over USD 70 million from the country held or are still holding government positions such as state ministers and ministers have also been implicated from the list sent by Corruption and Asset Recovery Commission to the parliament. 

The Chairperson of Parliament Judiciary Committee, Imthiyaz Fahmy has assured that the committee will release the MMPRC corruption original list as sent by the Presidential Commission on Asset Recovery with the stamp and that the leaked list currently circulating on social media is a fake, used as a divisive tactic to overshadow the actual work being done by the committee.