The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), on Wednesday, revealed that a total of 34 corruption complaints were submitted regarding the national response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
ACC President Mariyam Shiuna disclosed the case numbers in her statement issued on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day 2020.
Referring to the aforementioned cases, Shiuna warned that any individual, accused of perpetrating an act of corruption while filling a position of responsibility, would be thoroughly investigated and held accountable regardless of status or political allegiance.
She asserted that any person in a position of responsibility amid efforts to save lives, who intends to misuse their authority to gain illicit enrichment, was answerable to the country's people.
The ACC president added that support from civilians would strengthen the commission's efforts to stamp out corruption.
Notably, a compliance audit published by the Auditor General's Office published earlier this year revealed that the Ministry of Health had spent over MVR 30 million in violation of the Public Finance Act as part of its COVID-19 expenditure.
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 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 in advance for the 75 ventilators, covering 90 percent of the total cost of MVR 34 million.
Following the completion of a joint investigation with Maldives Police Service, the corruption watchdog forwarded the case to the PG Office on October 14. ACC sought charges against former Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen, Financial Controller Ahmed Aslam, and two individuals that had reviewed and signed off on documents, in addition to several senior officials sitting on the health ministry's bid committee.
However, Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem asserted that the evidence collected was insufficient to press criminal charges.
ACC has requested the PG Office to review its decision regarding the high profile corruption case.
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