ACC seeks to prosecute former media council members

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has forwarded a case to the Prosecutor General’s Office seeking to prosecute seven former members of the Maldives Media Council (MMC) for disobeying a directive to pay back and refrain from further withdrawal of living allowances, during their time in office in 2011.

The seven members accused of corruption are; former president of MMC Mohamed Nazeef, former commission members Mohamed Haleem, Mohamed Azim Abdul Haadhee, Ali Waheed Hassan Manik, Massood Hilmee, Ahmed Muhsin and Anas Abdul Sattar.

ACC is also asking to press charges against three additional former members of MMC, Shiham Mohamed Waheed, Fathimathi Ishan Ali and Saif Zuhair,

ACC's case to PG states that the Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament had informed the council that their members were not entitled to the living allowance, as it was not included in their parliament-approved salaries.

ACC explained that the council had initially obeyed the parliament directive and stopped withdrawing the allowance, but had resumed the practice after a meeting in January 2011. ACC also states that on 18 August 2011, the commission members had withdrawn a collective sums equivalent to the sum that was forgone, following the parliament’s directive.

The commission has recommended charges against the 10 individuals under Article 27 (a) of the Prevention and Prohibition of Corruption Act.