MMPRC graft: SOF's bank accounts released

The bank accounts of SOF Private Limited, which were used to launder illegal funds in the MMPRC graft scandal, have been released.

ACC's media officer confirmed to AVAS that the SOF accounts had been released. However, it was not done at the request of the ACC, he said.

“ACC is still investigating some cases related to the MMPRC fraud. We learned through our investigation that SOF accounts have been released,” the official said.

It has been reported that the SOF accounts were released following an order issued by the Civil Court to the Bank of Maldives (BML). The ACC said it did not know the exact date on which the SOF accounts were released.

The ACC official said a court order is being sought to re-freeze the SOF accounts. However, he did not give a specific date on which the matter would be taken to court.

"There are things we need to look into before filing the case. For example, whether the account still has money. There is no point in freezing an account without money," the official said.

The Auditor General's special audit report on the MMPRC scam said the SOF received $70.17 million in state funds from the MMPRC.