Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has reaffirmed that results will be achieved and justice will prevail through the investigation of the corruption scandal of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC).
Speaking at a programme aired on PSM News, President of ACC Adam Shamil highlighted the importance of retrieving funds and assets that were embezzled from the state through the MMPRC scandal. Shamil said timelines have been allocated to meet the targets of the MMPRC investigation, noting the commission hopes to speed up the investigation process and press charges against MMPRC beneficiaries without delays. He affirmed ACC will do its best to deliver justice in the case, and expressed confidence the investigation will yield successful results.
The new ACC President Shamil is part of a completely new five-member commission, appointed after previous members resigned following a dismissal motion launched by the Parliament of the Maldives amid lengthy delays in investigating the MMPRC scandal and other major corruption cases. The new members of ACC have pledged to utilise all of its resources to speed up the investigation of the MMPRC scandal.
The MMPRC corruption scandal is the largest ever corruption scandal to occur in the Maldives, involving the embezzlement of over USD194 million through the lease of several islands and lagoons for resort development between 2014 and 2015. Some of the senior officials of the previous administration, including former President Abdulla Yameen, former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and former Managing Director of MMPRC Abdulla Ziyath have received sentences over different charges related to the MMPRC scandal. However, it is believed the total number of beneficiaries from the scandal are above 200, including government ministers, parliamentarians, judges, as well as police and military officers.