Former Prosecutor General Blames ACC Policies for Rising Corruption in Maldives

Former Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem has strongly criticised the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), claiming that its policies and workload are contributing to the spread of corruption in the Maldives.

His remarks followed the conviction of former FENAKA Corporation Managing Director Ahmed Saeed Mohamed, who was sentenced to four years in prison on corruption charges.

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Shameem said a major factor fuelling corruption is the ACC Chairman Adam Shamil’s alleged policy of not investigating cases linked to the then-interim government. He stated that although Saeed’s conviction might appear as progress in combating corruption, the case reflects broader systemic shortcomings within the ACC’s investigative processes.

According to Shameem, the corruption incidents involving Saeed occurred between 2018 and 2019, and a settlement agreement was signed on 25 April 2019. Written evidence, including documents from 2017, 2018, and 2019, as well as a letter dated 3 May 2023, had already been compiled.

Despite all relevant documents reportedly being gathered by May 2023, the ACC took an additional one year and seven months to forward the case to the Prosecutor General’s Office. Shameem pointed out that had the case been referred in 2023, it could have been filed in court by June that year, within the standard 15-day period.

He further noted that the ACC had initiated its investigation during the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government, with witness testimonies already obtained at the time. However, the case was only submitted to the Prosecutor General’s Office on 24 December of the following year, after the MDP administration’s term had ended.

Shameem argued that the handling of Saeed’s case demonstrated flaws in the ACC’s investigative approach, suggesting that the commission’s focus was politically selective. He alleged that the current ACC President places particular emphasis on avoiding investigations into cases connected to sitting governments.

As a remedy, Shameem proposed that specific legal deadlines be introduced for the ACC to complete its investigations, similar to existing timelines followed by the police. He stressed that legally binding time limits should also apply to the ACC, the Prosecutor General’s Office, and the courts to ensure that corruption cases are resolved more swiftly.