Malé, Maldives – Prosecutor General (PG) Hussain Shameem has refused to respond to allegations by Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Minister Ahmed Mahloof of malicious prosecution.
Youth Minister Ahmed Mahloof was charged with bribery charges under the Prevention and Prohibition of Corruption Act, 2000 (Act No. 2/2000) yesterday following which he released screenshots of an alleged conversation with PG Shameem indicating malicious intent.
PG Shameem has refused to respond to these allegations, while the Prosecutor General’s Office stated that they will respond in court.
I will not resign. Truth will come out at court.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Minister Ahmed Mahloof
In the alleged conversation with Minister Mahloof’s Personal Assistant, the Prosecutor General allegedly said that “this is the result of Minister Mahloof’s attitude” and even “the police have no sympathy for him”.
While some have reacted to the news stating that if in fact true, the Prosecutor General has acted unethically and others state that a cabinet Minister publicising such alleged evidence of a trial for political purposes is inappropriate.
We will respond in court.
Prosecutor General’s Office
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).
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. He has also accused the PGO of malicious prosecution and threatened that the government would be stripped naked if they decide to prosecute.
