ACC to review case of ventilator scandal after rejection of charges

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has said that the case into misconduct by the Health Ministry for the procurement of ventilators to the Maldives to increase the capacity of the Maldivian healthcare system to combat COVID-19 would be reviewed along with the police. 

Better known as the ventilator scandal, senior Health Ministry officials including Minister Abdulla Ameen himself is accused of misconduct and misinformation regarding the procurement of ventilators.

PG Office decides against charges in ventilator scandal https://t.co/ItbeJVVWIM

— sun.mv (@sunbrk) October 20, 2020

The ACC had requested charges against 11 Health Ministry officials, however, the Prosecutor General’s Office had declined to bring charges citing a lack of evidence. The move has led to stern criticism towards the ACC regarding the quality of investigations.

An ACC media official speaking with Sun today said that a review of the case would be conducted along with police after the PG clarified the reasons for the lack of charges in the case. A decision would only be taken after the conclusion of the review.