Former customs official charged with bribery in cigarette import case

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has forwarded a case to the Prosecutor General’s Office (PG) against a former senior superintendent of customs for allegedly soliciting bribes related to the import of 430 cases of cigarettes.

ACC said that the case against H. New Happiness, Muaz Ali was forwarded for prosecution on 8 October.

He faces charges under the Penal Code for knowingly soliciting and accepting a benefit, and for agreeing to accept it for himself or another person.

According to the ACC, in 2018, a private company imported 450 cases of cigarettes, which were stored at the Hulhumale’ bonded warehouse. Investigations revealed that Muaz Ali allegedly demanded bribes to settle the case, which was under Customs investigation in collaboration with the company, without requiring the cigarettes to be re-exported.