President Waheed takes action against corrupt officials: ACC

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has said that unlike previous governments, the government of President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik takes action against officials who are corrupt, and dismisses them when necessary.

In an interview with Sun Online today, President of ACC Hassan Luthfy praised President Waheed’s policies on corruption and said that this is a very positive sign, since no other government took such action against people suspected of corruption.

He said that it is not easy to dismiss civil servants as dismissed civil servants have several options they can pursue to claim their rights.

“It’s not so easy to dismiss people. There’ve been cases where civil servants go to the tribunal or higher courts and regain their employment posts. Civil service has taken such actions even after we notify them. Unlike before, President Waheed has taken action against political people. To the best of my knowledge, about 12 people have been dismissed from boards and other posts so far,” he said.

Luthfy did not give further details on them as cases related to some of them have not yet been filed to court.

In the Maldives, corruption allegations are most common against businessmen, senior government officials and members of parliament.

The president said in a statement on the occasion of Anti-Corruption Day last year that strict action will be taken against misuse of public funds and equipment, taking bribes, and obtaining undue advantages using the employment posts, by employees of all levels of state institutions, government, and government companies.