- Report delayed due to scale of the fraud
- ACC staff dedicated to probe
- Report to be extensive
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday announced that it would release the long awaited investigation report into the largest corruption scandal in the history of the archipelago next month.
Maldives Media and PR Corporation (MMPRC) had mediated the leasing of over 59 different tourist hotels, resorts and yacht marinas out of which 53 had been leased through an agreement with the tourism ministry.
The official audit report into the scandal, had revealed that over USD79 million had been embezzled through the state tourism promotion company.
During the press conference held Thursday to release the commission's annual report, ACC chief Hassan Luthfee said three teams were operating the investigation with a large part of the ACC team solely dedicated to the case.
Luthfee stated that the work on the report was currently in the last stage and assured that the report would no longer be delayed.
"We will complete the investigation and release the report in April," Luthfee stated.
Luthfee also defended the delay highlighting the difficulties faced in verifying the information provided by various institutions relevant to the investigation.
ACC had previously vowed an extensive investigation and to find out all parties responsible in the large scale corruption.
The funds received by MMPRC was distributed through a private company with strong links to former vice president Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor.
Both Adheeb and the former MMPRC head Abdulla Ziyath have been convicted and sentenced to prison over the scandal.
The heads of the private company had fled the country and is believed to be hiding in the UK.
A recent documentary released by Al Jazeera had brought the scandal to international limelight.
Government however, had completely rebuffed the 'unsubstantiated' evidence which the Doha based broadcaster claims to have uncovered in the expose.
Government meanwhile has announced a tighter regulation to streamline tourism revenue inflow.
The regulation would now see tourism revenue go through the archipelago's inland revenue as opposed to the tourism ministry.
Government had also vowed to recover the stolen funds.
