Former home minister Umar Naseer has asked the country's broadcasting regulator to take libel action against state run Television Maldives and government aligned Channel 13 over the live telecast of a government lawmaker's speech which had implicated Umar in the alleged fraudulent deals that were brokered in hosting the Independence Day celebrations in 2015.
Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falah during a ruling party ceremony on Tuesday had alleged that several companies had been formed for less than 10 days to undertake various projects related to the grand 50th Independence Day celebrations.
Falah during his speech had said the opposition leaders were trying to hide their transgressions in the name of democracy and reform.
"Look at Umar Naseer. Now he won't say a word. Companies have been created for 10 to 15 days for the independence day projects. But they are the ones who are talking about corruption. I dare Umar to sue me. He won't go to court. He won't," Falah had challenged.
The ceremony was broadcast live on both TV stations and Umar in his complaint to the Maldives Broadcasting Commission had quoted the new anti-defamation law which mandates broadcasters to cut the live feed over possible libel content.
Umar who had earlier asked police to seek defamation charges against Falah said he had followed through with the complaints to "accept the lawmaker's challenge."
Meanwhile, Home minister Azleen Ahmed last month had also accused Umar of violating the Finance Act and procurement regulations in leasing work for the 50th Independence Day celebrations.
The minister’s allegations came after the country's anti-graft commission raided the home ministry office and questioned some of its employees over an investigation in to the alleged fraudulent deals that were brokered in hosting the Independence Day celebrations.
In a press conference that followed the anti-graft commission’s impromptu investigation of the home ministry, Azleen explained the raid by saying that the office set up to organise the Independence Day celebrations fell under the jurisdiction of the home ministry.
He said that the commission was investigating whether the office that was set up under the former home minister’s jurisdiction, followed the Finance Act and the correct procedures.
The auditor general had also highlighted some discrepancies in the expenses for the Independence Day celebrations and relayed this information to him after he assumed office, the minister added.
Some of the discrepancies that were highlighted by the anti-graft body include; companies being assigned work without a proper bidding process and work being carried out without agreements, among other administrative shortcomings.
Azleen also accused the former home minister Umar Naseer of handing work over to companies that he favoured, without following the proper protocols.
“No minister has the authority to act outside the Finance Act. The minister should be responsible for all proceedings that take place within his ministry. We don’t know for sure if the former home minister had done anything wrong since the anti-graft body is still investigating the matter. But the responsible parties should be held accountable,” Azleen said in the press conference.
The home minister stressed on the importance of transparency in using state funds and said that the public should be aware of how the funds are being spent.
The office that was set up by the home ministry had a budget of MVR150 million to organise the 50th Independence Day celebrations.
