Anti-Corruption Commission revealed Tuesday that 38 employees at national bank 'Bank of Maldives' (BML) were involved in the MMPRC graft, where millions in state funds were embezzled from the government.
ACC members were summoned to the Parliament's Public Finance Committee on Tuesday to inquire regarding the special audit report issued on the scandal.
Answering inquiries from committee members, Commissioner of ACC Muawwiz Rasheed said cheques issued by SOF Private Limited, the main company linked to the embezzlement, were deposited at the bank in collusion with several bank employees. Muawwiz revealed that junior employees as well as senior employees at management level and board members were also involved in the graft.
The 38 employees are being questioned by the commission, and their statements are being recorded, Muazwwiz told the committee.
Muawwiz said that the reports of MMPRC cheques being deposited by BML to SOF Pvt Ltd were brought to the attention of central bank Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA). However, the information was relayed to the central bank only after depositing the cheques, the commissioner said.
Muawwiz also noted that the cheques were deposited by the bank while the endorsement procedure on the cheques were incomplete. BML has previously denied the allegations, stating that the endorsement was compete on the deposited cheques.
Muawwiz revealed that MMA has conducted their own investigation into the matter and has sent the case to the Prosecutor General's Office for further action. The money-laundering aspect of the case is being investigated by the police, said Muawiz.
Bank of Maldives has received a lot of backlash over the case while the involvement of several senior officials from the previous government is also suspected in carrying out the graft. Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb, former MD of MMPRC Abdulla Ziyath were charged and convicted for their part in the corruption.
After the new government began administration last November, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyom has also been charged with money laundering. However, the case is currently at a standstill.
