Special committee to be set up to probe embezzlement

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has made the decision to form a special committee to investigate embezzlement, misuse of State funds and money laundering.

Solih, during his inauguration last Saturday evening, announced several key actions he has vowed to take within the first 100 days in office; one of which includes ending corruption.

His first day at office, Solih has made the decision to form a special committee to recover missing State funds.

Several cases of corruption within the State had come to light during the previous administration – including the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) embezzlement scandal. It has been identified that more than MVR 1 billion is missing in State funds in the MMPRC scandal. Former Vice President and Minister of Tourism Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor has been found guilty of involvement in the scandal and currently sits in prison.

State companies and corporations such as Housing Development Corporation (HDC) have also been accused of embezzlement.

Additional plans for the first 100 days to end corruption:

• Publicizing financial statements of all appointees and spouses of appointees to government offices, State companies and independent institutions, and conducting regular reviews.
• Submitting a Bill to the Parliament aimed at ending undue accumulation of wealth
• Submitting a Bill on whistle blowing to the Parliament
• Taking action to stop practice of bribery and corruption in issuance of quotas to foreign workers and make all procedures related to foreign workers corruption and bribery-free.