Prosecutor General (PG) Abbas Shareef has ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to expedite its criminal investigations.
In a statement, the PG office said the order was issued under the powers conferred by the law. The PG office also issued guidelines for ACC to submit criminal cases.
The statement added that the decision was taken following complaints from the public regarding delays in corruption investigations.
“It has come to our attention that criminal investigations conducted by the ACC are being delayed and this affects the interests of the state and the general public while making it difficult to recover money lost to the state in corruption and fraud cases,” the statement read.
The statement named some cases including the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption scandal and the corruption in Binveriya and Gedhoruveriya housing schemes.
PG Abbas ordered the ACC to complete the investigation of these cases as soon as possible and submit them to the PG office in accordance with the guidelines.
According to the PG office, the new guidelines are aimed at speeding up investigations, strengthening investigative processes and creating an easier system to obtain prosecutorial advice.
