The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), on Wednesday, requested the Prosecutor General's Office to press charges against Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen, as well as 10 other individuals, regarding the fraudulent procurement of 149 ventilators.
In addition to the health minister, the corruption watchdog requested that the PG Office press charges against Financial Controller Ahmed Aslam, two individuals that had reviewed and signed off on documents, in addition to several senior officials sitting on the health ministry's bid committee.
While Minister Ameen had recused himself from all official duties until the conclusion of the investigation on August 17, the Financial Controller and members of the bid committee were suspended by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Speaking to local media outlet Mihaaru, PG Office information officer and public prosecutor stated that the request sent by ACC in the early hours of Wednesday was the commission's second submission. They disclosed that the PG Office would commence reviewing the request on the upcoming day.
An official from the PG Office also revealed that a decision would be reached regarding the ventilator controversy within the upcoming week, in accordance with efforts to expedite cases.
ACC launched a joint investigation with the Maldives Police Service in August, after the the Auditor General's Office published a compliance audit on the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 expenditure, revealing that the ministry had spent over MVR 30 million in violation of the Public Finance Act.
As part of the government's COVID-19 response efforts, the health ministry had signed agreements with Naadu Pvt Ltd to procure 24 ventilators and MedTech Maldives Pvt Ltd to secure 50 ventilators, in addition to the 75 ventilators from Dubai-based Executors General Trading LLC.
Per the audit, the health ministry's negotiations with Executors were rife with corruption, including false claims that the order was placed following a recommendation by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The state has already paid MVR 30.9 million for the 75 ventilators, covering 90 percent of the total cost of MVR 34 million.
Additionally, the audit report revealed that agreements with local companies Naadu Pvt Ltd and MedTech Maldives were formulated in a manner damaging to the state and seemingly, deliberately steered towards enriching certain entities.
Furthermore, while all three companies failed to procure the equipment before the specified deadline, 10 ventilators provided by Executors did not meet standards stipulated in the agreements and subsequently could not be used to treat COVID-19 patients.
After being summoned to the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, the minister and other staff maintained that they had operated in line with the Public Finance Act and relevant procedures to procure the ventilators, asserting that nothing was done to facilitate corruption or illicit enrichment for any entities.
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