ACC Seeks Charges Against Former Hospital Officials Over COVID-19 Misconduct

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has requested formal charges against three former senior officials of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), regarding the use of reagents for PCR testing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

https://x.com/ACC_Maldives/status/1825855001983643826

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In a statement, the ACC named the individuals as Dr. Ali Abdul Latheef, former Chairperson of the Procurement Committee and member of the Technical Advisory Committee; Ibrahim Saleem, former CEO; and Dr. Milza Abdul Muhsin, former Head of Laboratory. All three held senior positions at IGMH during the pandemic.

The ACC alleges that the officials misused their positions for personal gain, citing their involvement in a deal with RMLS Lab Services, a private company, which granted access to PCR testing reagents used at IGMH. The Commission has requested the Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office) to press charges against the three individuals for abuse of office, under the Penal Code, for providing illicit benefits and obtaining personal financial gains.

Additionally, the ACC’s investigation revealed suspected money laundering involving Dr. Latheef and RMLS Lab Services. The case has been referred to the Maldives Police Service for further investigation. Furthermore, the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has been asked to review Dr. Latheef’s tax filings due to potential discrepancies highlighted in the ACC’s findings.

The ACC has also informed the Maldives Medical Council of the cases involving Dr. Latheef and Dr. Muhsin, requesting updates on any actions taken against the two doctors.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought several corruption cases within the health sector to light. Notably, a contract worth MVR 34.50 million was awarded by the Health Ministry to Executors General Trading in 2020 for the procurement of 75 ventilators. However, only 15 ventilators were delivered, despite 90 percent of the payment, totalling MVR 30.91 million, being made in advance without securing an advance or performance guarantee.

Despite the ACC repeatedly urging the PG Office to press charges related to the ventilator case, the Office declined to do so. The decision is now one of the key issues cited in a recent no-confidence motion against Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem, currently under review by the Parliament.

The ACC’s investigation into these cases reflects broader concerns regarding corruption in the healthcare sector during the pandemic.