ACC did not specify accusation against Aishath Ali: Lawyers

Former Education Minister Dr. Aishath Ali's lawyers stated that the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) was unable to specify the accusation against her regarding the compensation paid to Swift Engineering when she appeared before the ACC.

After undergoing two hours of questioning for ACC's investigation and exiting the office, Aishath Ali's lawyer Ahmed Mauroof said that the commission's accusation consisted of unfair compensation towards the company. However, when the ACC was asked who had determined that it was unfair compensation, Mauroof said that the ACC was unable to give any details.

Mauroof went on to say that Aishath Ali was only a part of a recommendation committee and that it was not a decision-making committee. Mauroof also said that the ACC did not put forward any questions regarding unfair compensation.

Former Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer and former Economic Minister and MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail were also summoned to the ACC regarding an accusation of corruption towards former administration North Thinadhoo MP PNC member Saudhulla Hilmy's company Swift Engineering and unfair compensation. Ibrahim Riffath, the former Attorney General during the last MDP administration, has also been summoned to appear before the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Aik Ahmed Easa, who is a part of the team of lawyers stated that even investigators were unclear regarding what case the questions being asked about. He went on to say that people were just being summoned to the commission as per the orders of the top ACC members.

Regarding the commission's allegation that Swift Engineering's unfair compensation was detrimental to the state, Saudhulla stated that he appeared before the Settlement Committee during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration to request compensation for the losses incurred by Swift Engineering not in monetary form, but in projects equivalent to the amount that was lost due to the projects being halted.

"I specifically requested for five projects with a worth of four projects to be given to Swift Engineering as compensation. No compensation was given regarding the other two projects," said Saudhulla.