The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has raided the premises of the Maldives Media Council (MMC) for an investigation connected to the Journalism Awards held on October 30.
ACC media officer Hassan Manik told Adhadhu that the commission could not disclose who filed the complaint or provide details of the case.
"It is very difficult for us to say this is about a specific award at the moment but based on the case that has been submitted, it is a complaint that an award has been processed through influence of position in a way which involves corruption," he said.
He said that a team from ACC visited the MMC premises today and said that the investigation would be conducted under the usual procedure.
"In our investigation phase, we will collect documents and clarify the information and then the next phases will proceed," he said.
Meanwhile, pro-government activists, government officials and ruling party MPs have spoken against the award given to Adhadhu's "Skeelan" documentary.
The documentary was produced about President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's stepmother, Gnei Skeelan, a Sri Lankan citizen, who was blacklisted and deported from the Maldives.
It won the award in the investigative journalism category. Following anger from those connected to the government, the MMC has decided to conduct an investigation and decide on withdrawing the award.
