It has emerged that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) requested the Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office to charge Popular Maldives over the MMPRC corruption scandal only after the company went to court, seven years after the investigation first began.
In a statement yesterday, the ACC alleged that the acquisition cost for Thaa Olhugiri, which was leased to Popular Maldives, was paid using illicit funds. The commission also accused the company of involvement in money laundering.
However, Popular Maldives said in a statement that the ACC only forwarded the case to the PG Office after the company filed a lawsuit against the commission and the court ordered the ACC to respond to the claims.
"If there was any evidence, why wasn't a request for prosecution made earlier? There is no evidence in this case. Yet, the ACC simply sat on the matter," an official from Popular Maldives told Adhadhu.
ACC seeks charges against Popular Maldives company over MMPRC graft
The ACC has requested charges against Popular Maldives for receiving $150,000 in embezzled MMPRC funds via SOF Private Limited. The company, owned by former MP Riyaz Rasheed’s children, allegedly laundered the money to pay for a resort island lease. The ACC is now seeking to repossess the island due to the illicit nature of the transaction.
The commission also decided to request the relevant authorities to repossess Olhugiri from Popular Maldives. The ACC stated this decision was based on the company’s failure to develop the island in accordance with the lease agreement.
In response, Popular Maldives claimed that the island remained undeveloped because the ACC had been intimidating potential investors by citing an "ongoing investigation." The company further alleged that the ACC was attempting to achieve an objective through "indirect means."
"The ACC held up this island for seven years to achieve something through indirect channels. However, as this island was acquired through a legitimate payment, the company decided to seek justice through the courts," the company’s statement read.
Furthermore, Popular Maldives expressed concern over the decision to seek the repossession of Olhugiri. The company noted that the Supreme Court has previously ruled that the ACC does not have the legal authority to take actions that would nullify a contract signed between two parties.
