The Maldives graft watchdog declared Wednesday that the Waqf Fund, managed by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, has not handed over its promised share of the donation made by a private Ab Dhabi association to the Sadaqat Foundation.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) stated that investigations revealed that Abu Dhabi’s association had made the donation of USD 24,000 (MVR 370,080) to Waqf Fund on condition that half of it (MVR 185,040) be given to the Sadaqat Foundation.
According to the ACC, the Islamic Ministry had cancelled its letter to the Ministry of Finance and Treasury requesting to deposit the amount for Sadaqat Foundation.
The commission had probed the matter in the wake of a case filed by a private individual stating that Waqf Fund had transferred the amount as per the agreement.
The private association of Abu Dhabi had made the donation to aid Waqf Fund in conducting various religious programmes in mosques during the last Islamic holy month of Ramadan. ACC elaborated that the donation agreement stipulated that USD 12,000 of the charity be given to Sadaqat Foundation which also conducts various religious activities. The commission also noted that members of Waqf Fund’s financial division had finalised to transfer the money to the foundation.
The reasons for withholding the donation from Sadaqat Foundation or the Islamic Ministry cancelling its letter remain unclear.
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