President's Office has stated it ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Maldives Police Service (MPS) to investigate alleged corruption in bringing ventilators for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a press release on March 27, the President's Office stated the Ministry of Health was tasked with bringing in ventilators as an emergency measure on the advice of health experts. The President's Office stated it ordered ACC and MPS to swiftly investigate the allegations after the Auditor General's Office (AGO) highlighted irregularities in its COVID-19 compliance audit report on the health ministry. The President's Office also stated it provided information and full support during the probe conducted by ACC and it also suspended all government employees under investigation.
On October 14 last year, ACC forwarded charges against 11 officials of the health ministry, including then-Minister Abdulla Ameen, over the irregularities in awarding the contract to Dubai-based Executors Generals Trading to procure 75 ventilators to the Maldives. However, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) declined the case upon review, and decided not to press any charges, citing the inadequate investigation conducted by ACC.
The case was placed under review again upon recommendation by the Parliamentary Committee on Judiciary to seek further information on the case from relevant investigative authorities including ACC and MPS. However, upon reviewing the case, PGO ruled for a second time the evidence provided by ACC does not fit the requirements for criminal prosecution. Therefore, the PGO stated it has decided to maintain the decision not to press charges in the case.