Parliament Refers Sexual Harassment Case Against Broadcom VP to Committee

The parliament has referred the case regarding sexual harassment allegations made against the Vice President of the Maldives Broadcasting Commission (Broadcom), Mohamed Fazeen, to the parliamentary Committee on Independent Institutions today.

According to the Committee, the sexual harassment case was referred to the Committee of the Independent Institution on behalf of Broadcom and the employee who allegedly faced harassment. They said the case had been under investigation for quite some time now, and after summoning all concerned parties, the Committee sent the case to the parliament sitting.

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If a member of an independent body is dismissed, the matter has to be heard on the floor of the parliament and referred to the Committee.

The parliament highlighted seven points when it heard the case. They stated that the testimony of the employees who filed the complaint, along with those summoned to the Commission, clearly indicated that a Broadcom employee had been subjected to abusive language and inappropriate touching. The Committee considered this behaviour a violation of the moral standards and dignity upheld by society. The Committee also found that Fazeen had breached the membership code of conduct.

Additionally, the committee noted that the employee had been contacted outside of official hours and addressed in a manner that violated the general code of conduct. The employee also reported that Fazeen had used abusive language towards other female employees of the Commission.

Previously, the Committee had summoned the employee who filed the complaint, Fazeen, and other members and employees of the Commission. Last week, when the decision was made to refer the matter to parliament, Fazeen requested one more chance to defend himself, which the committee agreed to. Committee Chair, Maafushi MP Hussain Riza, confirmed that the matter was listed on today’s agenda after Fazeen requested to appear with a lawyer. However, due to a medical emergency involving the lawyer’s wife, they requested a five-day postponement. The committee granted the request, and the meeting has been rescheduled for next Monday.