Former Attorney General Azima Shakoor has been appointed to a senior position in the President’s Office.

President’s Office spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) confirmed to Mihaaru News that Azima has taken up the post of principal secretary.

Azima contested the Malé City mayoral election on the PNC ticket in 2023 but was unsuccessful. Despite her close ties to the administration, she had not previously held a government position under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu.

She has, however, worked as a lawyer for the family of President Muizzu in a case filed against them.

Azima was charged in 2019 in connection with the MMPRC corruption scandal. The charges included facilitating money laundering and providing false information to a government body.

The charges were later withdrawn by the Prosecutor General’s Office following Azima’s appeal for a review.

The PG Office said the decision followed a Supreme Court verdict acquitting the accused in the original money laundering case, in which the alleged criminal conduct underlying the charges against Azima could not be proven.

The PG Office subsequently determined that there were no grounds to continue the prosecution against Azima.