Prosecutor General (PG) Hussain Shameem has denied any discrimination against Minister of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof.
Minister Mahloof has claimed that the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) is discriminating against him while looking into the case regarding his alleged involvement in the corruption scandal of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). In response to the claim, PG Shameem said that cases are filed for prosecution based on the evidence and that the PGO is working to confirm that all evidence in the case was obtained in accordance with the law.
Furthermore, the PG stated it does not discriminate against any individual and that Mahloof's case is being delayed due to the numerous evidence and documents that need to be processed as well as due to the large amount of administrative work. Shameem previously stated a decision on the case against Mahloof will be made after the administrative work is completed.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) charged Mahloof under Article 2(a) of the Anti-Corruption Act, on the counts of bribery and embezzlement in relation to the corruption scandal of MMPRC. ACC has also charged Mahloof under Article 521 of the Penal Code of the Maldives for providing false information to an investigative authority. The charges were submitted to the PGO on June 9.
On the same day, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ordered Mahloof to step aside from his duties until a decision is made on the corruption charges pressed against him.