ACC submits documents requested by PG in corruption case against Minister Mahloof

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has submitted the additional documents requested by the Prosecutor General’s Office in the corruption case against Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof.

ACC requested the Prosecutor General’s Office for charges against Mahloof in connection to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) embezzlement case on June 9. Though some media networks reported the Prosecutor General’s Office declined charges, the Office said they did not decline charges, but merely asked the ACC to submit some additional documents related to the case.

Prosecutor General’s Office spokesperson, Public Prosecutor Ahmed Shafeeu told Sun on Monday that ACC has submitted the additional documents, and that a decision regarding the prosecution will be made after a review of the documents.

ACC said their investigation found the USD 33,000 in funds stolen from MMPRC was sent to then-parliamentarian Mahloof back in 2014, as a bribe from then-Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor to remain a member of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and vote for the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Bill.

ACC said Mahloof arrived at the Parliament on August 27, 2014, after travelling from Malaysia, for the sole purpose of voting for the SEZ Bill.

ACC found a USD 33,000 cheque was deposited to Mahloof’s bank account by SOF Private Limited – the company accused of laundering the stolen funds.

Mahloof has maintained that the deposit was a legitimate business transaction to procure US dollars, since the deposit first became public knowledge, back in 2019.

However, ACC said that witnesses and other evidence proof it had not been a legitimate business transaction.

Mahloof has been placed under suspension pending the decision of Prosecutor General’s Office regarding pressing charges.