President Solih reconstitutes Anti-Corruption Commission

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Thursday appointed five members to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), reconstituting it.

During a ceremony held at the President’s Office, the members were sworn in by Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan.

The newly sworn members of ACC are:

Adam Shamil, Raivilla, Th. Vilufushi

Abdul Salaam, Havaa, Sh. Narudhoo

Thaha Mohamed, Kalhihaaruge

Shazna Hashim, Rihivilu, HDh Nolhivaranfaru

Shiyama Mohamed, Naares, R. Hulhudhuffaaru  

Additionally, The president and vice president for the Anti-Corruption Commission was also appointed.

While Adam Shaamil is the new ACC President, Abdul Salaam is the Vice President. 

Prior to his appointment to ACC, Adam Shamil served as the Director, Investigation and Legal Department, of the Children’s Ombudspersons Office. He holds a Master of Laws from the Maldives National University (MNU).

Meanwhile, Abdul Salaam was serving as a Senior Investigation Officer at the ACC. He completed his Bachelor of Shariah and Law from MNU.

Before this appointment, Thoha Mohamed served as a member of the President’s Committee Investigating Public Housing Schemes and was a Partner and Senior Legal Counsel at The Litigants LLP. He holds a Bachelor of Shariah and Law from MNU.

Additionally, Shazna Hashim served as the Director of Finance at the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Commerce (Accounting) from Al-Azhar University, Egypt.

Shiyama Mohamed served as the Deputy Director at the Elections Commission (EC) before her new appointment. She holds a Master of Shari’ah from Villa College.

The President on February 23, forwarded his selection of candidates to the Parliament for approval.

The Parliament’s Committee on Independent Institutions granted approval on March 7. Subsequently, the Parliament voted and granted approval to all nominees.

ACC was vacant until now, with the resignation of all five members composing the commission.

Their resignation came after Parliament’s Independent Institutions Committee decided in November 2021 that they would recommend the dismissal of members found to be underperforming following their review. Following its review – the Committee voted to initiate the process of dismissal of all members of ACC in early December as they uncovered the Commission had over 16,000 pending cases.  

On December 26, 2021, the Committee recommended a vote of no-confidence motion on the Parliament floor against the ACC members.

Two of the commission’s members – Ibrahim Shakeel and Ali Ashraf – resigned after the committee began its review.   

The remaining members; the commission’s President Mariyam Shiuna, Vice President Fathimath Anoola, and Aishath Abdulla – tendered their resignation a day after the no-confidence motion was taken.

According to the law, within 60 days of an ACC seat becoming vacant, a new member should be appointed.