Transparency: Confession of MP distributing bribe money indication of large-scale corruption within government

Transparency Maldives has said that confession from Hoarafushi MP Mohamed Ismail that he distributed money received by Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) to bribe politicians was proof of how big a problem corruption is within Maldivian government.

TM released a statement on Sunday in which they said that high-ranking government officials using the influence of their position for personal gain was one of the biggest problems faced by Maldives.

“Results from democracy survey conducted by Transparency Maldives in 2015 show that 77 percent of Maldivians believe that corruption in the country had increased in 2014,” read the statement.

Transparency Maldives said that the Maldivian president himself had confessed that high-ranking officials from People’s Majlis and high-ranking government officials had received money of dubious origin, at a time when both Maldivian media and international media was reporting cases of corruption and black market money being laundered through Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA).

“Government foreign minister has implied that opposition politicians were also involved in the recent cases of corruption,” read the statement.

Transparency also said that Majlis was rejecting motions to investigation into cases of corruption, and that that put to question the integrity of the MPs who vote to reject the motions.

The agency noted that the problem was escalating and discontent of Maldivians growing, due to delays by institutions that investigate such issues, and also because such institutions did not release complete reports on the cases.

Transparency said that institutions charged with protecting the rights of Maldivian citizens were crippled, unable to perform their responsibilities with due speed, and bring about substantial change due to political influence.

TM called for People’s Majlis, Anti-Corruption Commission, Auditor General’s Office and Prosecutor General’s Office to rid itself of political influence and perform their duties responsibly and independently, and maintain the trust of citizens.

The agency also called for civilians to stand up and make government and other institutions answerable to them.