Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to review the investigation into the illegitimate oil trade worth over USD 800 million conducted through State Trading Organisation (STO) during the administration of former President Maumoon Abdul Qayyoom.
ACC revealed the investigation into the case initially began in 2011, after a request was submitted to investigate the illegitimate oil trade conducted by the STO Maldives-Singapore Private Limited, formed in 1997. Former President Abdulla Yameen, who was the head of STO at the time, was accused of leading the black market oil trade overseas and had an investigation launched against him by the Parliament of the Maldives as well.
During the tenure of former President Mohamed Nasheed, the accounting firm Grant Thornton LLP UK was tasked with conducting the probe into the oil trade. ACC revealed it has received and is in possession of the report prepared by Grant Thornton.
ACC decided to review the case more than two years after it decided not to continue the investigation, citing lack of information required for the investigation. However, the commission began reviewing the case after Parliamentarian Mohamed Falah submitted a motion to the parliament to reopen the case. The motion was accepted with votes from 67 parliamentarians.