MMPRC charges against Azima Shakoor dropped

The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) has withdrawn two charges against former Attorney General Aishaht Azima Shakoor in connection with the MMPRC corruption scandal.

Azima was charged on February 17, 2019, with facilitating money laundering and providing false information to an official body. However, the PGO announced Tuesday that it would no longer pursue the case.

The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling that Azima was not guilty in the original money laundering file. The charges stemmed from the broader case against former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, whose conviction was later overturned by the apex court.

Azima had petitioned the High Court and Supreme Court to dismiss the charges, but both courts ruled there was no legal basis to declare the case inadmissible.

Azima, who previously contested the Male' Mayoral seat on a PNC ticket, is also known for representing President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s family in legal matters, including cases involving his wife.

Separately, the PGO had earlier dropped charges against Azima’s brother, Athif Shakoor, who was accused of depositing large sums into SOF’s account using an MMPRC-issued cheque while heading the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) at the Maldives Monetary Authority. He was also accused of failing to report suspicious transactions.

Athif currently serves as an advisor to state-owned fisheries company MIFCO.