The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has no specific rules for handling complaints filed without basis to damage people’s reputations, its chairman, Adam Shamil, said today.

Responding to a question from Fuvahmulah South MP Ibrahim Hussain, Shamil said the commission lacked a mechanism to deal with complaints submitted for the purpose of defaming individuals. He added that some complaints were directed at discrediting ACC members themselves.

“Within the current system we operate, we definitely don’t have written our powers and responsibilities within, if someone files a complaint with us definitely for the purpose of defaming someone, then what to do next,” Shamil said.

Hussain had asked whether the ACC had special rules to prioritize complaints allegedly filed to damage the reputations of senior officials.

The MP alleged that some people lodged complaints with the commission to discredit politicians and other prominent figures, including members of the ruling party.

“Especially in the case of the ruling party or politicians who are not corrupt, the opposition or people who want to slaughter their reputation … [make allegations about] the same amount [of money allegedly obtained through corruption] on their heads. We are seeing this,” he said.

MP Hussain asked whether the commission had procedures to resolve such cases quickly and respond promptly to those affected.

Shamil said the previous anti-corruption law had included a provision for dealing with such complaints, but the current law did not.

He added that the European Union was developing a strategy to address allegations against senior officials, including members of the government and judiciary.