Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has resubmitted the corruption charges against 11 officials of the Ministry of Health who were involved in the failed procurement of ventilators to the Maldives through a Dubai-based company.
On October 14, 2020, 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 General 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 the ACC and Maldives Police Service (MPS). Following the second review of the case, the PGO maintained its decision not to press charges, stating the evidence provided by ACC does not fit the requirements for criminal prosecution. However, upon further concerns, PGO decided to review the case for a third time to find any avenues for prosecution.
Following a third review by the PGO, ACC was instructed to include stronger evidence to support the case. The commission resubmitted the charges against the 11 officials of the health ministry on November 1, 2021, after including additional information acquired through further investigation.
ACC stated it has requested the PGO to charge the 11 officials with denying a benefit to the state and the public, under Article 13 of the Anti-Corruption Act. ACC stated the investigation did not find any evidence that the 11 officials received any of the funds invested for the procurement of ventilators. However, the commission said it is still looking into how the state funds spent for the ventilators had circulated.
The COVID-19 compliance audit conducted on the health ministry by the Auditor General’s Office last year revealed Executors General Trading was paid 90% of the quoted price in advance to procure 75 ventilators in April 2020, of which only 15 were procured. The audit report also revealed the company was selected without assessing its financial and technical capabilities, in addition to not obtaining advance payment and performance guarantees.