The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) penalised the head of its financial intelligence unit and demoted him to the position of case investigator.
According to local media outlet Mihaaru, the measure was finalised approximately two months earlier, in connection to allegations that the financial intelligence head leaked information concerning the commission's probe into the Ministry of Health's controversial procurement of ventilators.
ACC's media official declined to comment concerning the matter.
The corruption watchdog is currently working to recruit an individual to fill the vacant position. At present, ACC's financial intelligence unit is being led by a temporary appointee.
Maldives Police Service and ACC are conducting a joint investigation after the Auditor General's (AG) Office released a compliance audit report on the Health Ministry's spending of state funds for the COVID-19 response, which revealed that the ministry had spent millions in violation of the Public Finance Act, whilst claiming to procure ventilators and other medical supplies.
Speaking at the Parliamentary Committee on Independent Institutions on August 18, ACC's President Mariyam Shiuna revealed that the commission had concluded probes into a total of 1,201 complaints following her appointment, including 392 cases between September 2019 and June 2020.
The ACC president also revealed that 152 of the 832 pending cases were obstructed due to travel restrictions implemented over the COVID-19 pandemic, and the reduction of MVR 7 million from the watchdog's budget.
Recently, ACC has faced scrutiny for delays in completing corruption probes, particularly graft scandals that occurred during former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's administration.
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