Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has stated that Prosecutor General Office’s rejection of the request to press charges against Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen’s alleged capitalizing on the procurement of ventilators amidst COVID-19 pandemic will be revaluated and further investigated.
After reviewing the Health Ministy’s compliance audit reports, ACC requested Prosecutor General’s Office to press charges against the Minister of Health along with 10 other individuals on 14th October 2020 for the misuse of official capacity.
Public prosecutor at the Prosecutor General’s Office Ahmed Shafeeu stated that claims of fraudulent procurement of 75 ventilators required by the Ministry of Health, which was entrusted to Dubai based Executors General Trading, has been investigated and that no charges will be pressed.
Regarding the decision, a member of ACC revealed that the case was rejected and sent back due to sufficient evidence for prosecution. Therefore, the case will be revaluated based on the PG Office’s review.
Along with Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen, ACC sought charges against Deputy Health Minister Nishama Mohamed, Director Naushad Ali, member of the Health Ministry’s Bid Committee Aminath Shaufa, Assistant Director of Health Fathimath Limya. ACC also requested pressing charges against Director of Ministry of Health Ahmed Aslam, legal officer Ali Shiham, Assistant Director Abdulla Hafiz, Assistant Administrative Officer Hussain Niyaz, as well as Deputy Director General Abdulla Shareef.
ACC’s request to press charges against the ventilator scandal was rejected by the Prosecutor General’s Office during a time at which several members of the parliament are criticizing the efficiency of ACC’s investigations.
