Maldives Broadcasting Commission began a probe into the defamation case filed by former Minister of Home Affairs Umar Naseer against local television channels TVM and Channel 13.
Speaking to Mihaaru, Umar said that the Broadcasting Commisison has informed him that they have accepted and begun the investigation of the case.
Speaking at a ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) ceremony this April which was aired on TVM and Channel 13, lawmaker of Inguraidhoo constituency Ibrahim Falah had referred to the state’s accusations against Umar Naseer for corruption in awarding the activities and events to celebrate the 50th Independence Day of the Maldives in 2015 during his tenure as home minister. To prove his allegations, MP Falah said that Umar had created small companies “for 10-15 days” to award these activities.
Following the airing of the PPM ceremony, Umar Naseer filed a case at the police requesting to investigate MP Falah’s comments under the Defamation and Freedom of Speech Act and forward the charges to the Prosecutor General’s Office. In his case, Umar stated that MP Falah has defamed him with an unproven false statement as specified under Subject 10 of the Defamation Act.
If the two channels are proven guilty, they will be fined an amount between MVR 50,000 to MVR 2 million.
Umar denies any allegations of corruption related to the Independence 50 celebrations.
While the Broadcasting Commission is investigating the cases of TVM and Channel 13, Umar has also filed a case against MP Falah as well.
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