Malé, Maldives – The Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof resumed office on Sunday after his suspension was lifted.
Local news reports that Mahloof’s suspension was lifted due to the delay in prosecution, four months past the paid suspension date.
Sports Minister has been removed from his duties since June 2021 with PGO investigating an alleged MMPRC bribery case.
Both the government and Mahloof himself on various occassions requested the PGO to fast track Mahloof’s 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).
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.
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. The Sports Minister has also accused the PGO of malicious persecution with political machinations.
