Malé, Maldives – The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) has denied accusations thrown by Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof of malicious persecution with political machinations.
Mahloof has accused the PGO of malicious prosecution that resulted in major loss for him. The suspended Sports Minister said that such acts will not hinder him and said that he has evidence against some individuals which would completely humiliate them.
Mahloof has also thrown accusations at the Presidents of Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and Asset Recovery Commission and said that neither party has any evidence against him.
The government would be stripped naked if they decide to prosecute.
Ahmed Mahloof
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Wednesday requested the prosecution to fast track Mahloof’s case, which was submitted to PGO in 9 June 2021.
When questioned about this by Adhadhu news, Public Prosecutor Ahmed Shafeeu said that it is not unusual for some cases to be prolonged due to investigative mechanisms and a decision is yet to be made in Mahloof’s alleged MMPRC bribery case.
According to the investigation carried out by Maldives Police Service, Presidential Commission on Corruption and Asset Recovery and Anti Corruption Commission over the MMPRC corruption, Mahloof had taken a bribe of USD 33,000 to vote for the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Bill and also to remain in Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
In addition to this, the joint investigation also showed that the investigation was able to link the text messages exchanged between Mahloof and Former Vice President of Maldives, Ahmed Adeeb (Bro) and the money deposited by SOF cheque of USD 33,000 to Mahloof to the vote taken in parliament as a bribe.
Mahloof, in his defence, says that he was a PPM Council member at the time of the vote of SEZ bill and voted as per the three-line whip set out for the vote by the party.
It was also revealed that Mahloof had given forged documents to Anti-Corruption Commission in an attempt to show that he had done a legitimate transaction to purchase dollars from SOF.
On the contrary, Mahloof accused that some names from the list had been removed due to political influence before being published and that he was being treated unfairly in the investigation.
