Two MFDA employees charged over clearing food shipments without health certificates

Two employees of the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) have been charged for authorizing the import of food shipments without the mandatory health certificates.

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, MFDA field officers assigned to port clearance allegedly approved multiple consignments of food brought in by sea and air in March, despite the absence of the health documentation required for all food imports.

The two suspects; Ahmed Hashim, Registry 9244 and Ahmed Zahir, Arafath, Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo have each been charged with three counts of misconduct in the performance of official duty.

If found guilty, each count carries a sentence of four months and 24 days in jail, meaning the employees could face over a year in prison.

The PG Office said both defendants expressed interest in entering a plea agreement. However, after assessing the matter, prosecutors decided not to pursue an advisory agreement, citing public interest concerns given that the case involves food safety and national food security.