Former MD of Maldive Gas banned from leaving the country

Former Managing Director of Maldive Gas, Abdulla Maumoon, has returned to the Maldives after having left the country while the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) was investigating multiple cases against him.

Upon return, Maumoon, who served as Maldive Gas MD during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen, has been banned from travelling out of the country, and relevant authorities have resumed their investigations against him.

Six years ago, Maumoon left the country at a time when the ACC had applied for a court order to ban him from travelling in relation to major allegations against him involving Maldive Gas. Since 2018, Maumoon has been living abroad.

ACC, meanwhile, concluded their investigations and forwarded the case to the Prosecutor General in January seeking to press charges against Maumoon.

Police Spokesperson and Assistant Commissioner of Police Ahmed Shifan said that they are investigating the money laundering aspect of the bribery charges against Maumoon, as this falls under their purview.

Shifan said that earlier an Interpol notice had also been issued to summon Maumoon for questioning in relation to this case.

He said that a travel ban had been placed on Maumoon on arrival in Maldives as there are ongoing cases against him.

ACC has appealed to the PG to press charges against Maumoon in a case where Maumoon, when in the position of Maldive Gas MD, had taken a bribe of MVR 3,106,189.38 from a foreign company that supplied cooking gas (LPG). At the time, Maumoon denied these charges.

ACC has applied to press seven separate charges against Maumoon in this case. These are;

1. Accepting bribery in a transaction concerning the State, in contravention of the Anti Corruption Act

2. Committing a crime

3. Intending to commit a crime

4. Planning to commit a crime

5. Accepting bribery

6. Using undue influence of an official position for personal gain

7. Using undue influence of an official position for facilitating personal gain

ACC said that they had investigated this case on their own initiative. Through their investigations, there are allegations that the money received as bribe has a connection to Maumoon, as well as having been deposited in accounts of companies owned by relatives of Maumoon.