The total amount of assets missing from the state amounts to MVR 13.5 billion, revealed the Commission on State Assets Recovery on Thursday.
Speaking at a press conference held at the President’s Office, home minister Azleen Ahmed of the commission declared that the negligence and complacency of previous governments in dealing with these issues had resulted in the loss of such a staggering amount of state funds.
He described the damage caused by the missing assets as “unendurably severe”.
The home minister also countered the opposition’s accusations that the commission, which was established by President Abdulla Yameen under a Presidential Decree last July, exists as a “threat”.
He further hit back at speculations that the Commission on State Assets Recovery poses danger to the authorities granted to independent institutions. Minister Azleen assured that the commission supports and assists institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The commission also warned on Thursday that it will investigate two major scandals that took place during the regime of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom: the corruption of the then state fisheries company, Fisheries Projects Implementation Department (FPID) 27 years ago, and the bankruptcy of Air Maldives in 1999. The minister added that they are also looking into graft allegations against former and current parliamentarians.
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