Prosecutor General Abbas Shareef has directed the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to expedite investigations into major criminal cases, including the MMPRC and COVID-19 scams.
In a statement released today, the Prosecutor General's Office revealed that it had received complaints about the slow pace of criminal investigations conducted by the ACC. It was noted that some high-profile cases, which are of significant public and state interest, have experienced delays.
The Prosecutor General's Office further highlighted that the delay in these investigations is hindering the recovery of funds lost due to corruption and embezzlement, undermining both state interests and the public's trust in the process.
To address this issue, the Prosecutor General has ordered the ACC to follow a new guideline for submitting all ongoing criminal investigations to the Prosecutor General's Office, as stipulated under Article 223 of the Constitution of the Maldives. The directive includes investigations into the MMPRC corruption scandal, misuse of state property and funds in connection with the COVID-19 response, as well as fraud cases involving government-owned companies, land ownership, and housing schemes.
The statement also emphasized that the Prosecutor General's order is designed to ensure that investigations are conducted more swiftly, with consistent procedures across various criminal agencies. This will also allow for earlier involvement of the Prosecutor General's Office in guiding the investigations.
The Prosecutor General's directive will take effect immediately, to strengthen the Anti-Corruption Commission's efforts and accelerate the investigation process. This move comes at a time when President Mohamed Muizzu is making special efforts to recover embezzled state funds, further highlighting the urgency of addressing these significant corruption cases.
In a statement released today, the Prosecutor General's Office revealed that it had received complaints about the slow pace of criminal investigations conducted by the ACC. It was noted that some high-profile cases, which are of significant public and state interest, have experienced delays.
The Prosecutor General's Office further highlighted that the delay in these investigations is hindering the recovery of funds lost due to corruption and embezzlement, undermining both state interests and the public's trust in the process.
To address this issue, the Prosecutor General has ordered the ACC to follow a new guideline for submitting all ongoing criminal investigations to the Prosecutor General's Office, as stipulated under Article 223 of the Constitution of the Maldives. The directive includes investigations into the MMPRC corruption scandal, misuse of state property and funds in connection with the COVID-19 response, as well as fraud cases involving government-owned companies, land ownership, and housing schemes.
The statement also emphasized that the Prosecutor General's order is designed to ensure that investigations are conducted more swiftly, with consistent procedures across various criminal agencies. This will also allow for earlier involvement of the Prosecutor General's Office in guiding the investigations.
The Prosecutor General's directive will take effect immediately, to strengthen the Anti-Corruption Commission's efforts and accelerate the investigation process. This move comes at a time when President Mohamed Muizzu is making special efforts to recover embezzled state funds, further highlighting the urgency of addressing these significant corruption cases.
