Malé, Maldives – The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) on Wednesday sent back the ventilator corruption case for further investigation to the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC).
ACC sent the ventilator corruption case for prosecution on November 1, 2021, for a third time with additional charges against the 11 individuals.
The ventilator scandal came to light following an audit by the Auditor General’s Office, which suggested foul play in all three contracts awarded by the Ministry of Health, to procure 142 ventilators for the state during the year 2020. 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.
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 Niyaz
- Deputy Director General Abdulla Shareef
ACC requested the PGO to pursue additional charges against the 11 individuals under the Prevention and Prohibition of Corruption Act (Act No. 2/2000) for the offence of acting in a manner which precludes an advantage to the public or the State where a benefit exists.
