Sources have told Adhadhu that the monthly payment of MVR 50,000 provided by President Mohamed Muizzu to the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) parliamentary group members resumed this month following a two-month hiatus.
Several MPs of the ruling coalition confirmed that while they did not receive these funds over the past two months, the payment for the current month has now been handed over to them.
They noted that the disbursement coincided with an effort to collect signatures for a motion to remove Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim from his post.
The motion, which has been signed by all PNC MPs except for Nazim himself, has now been placed on the agenda for tomorrow’s parliamentary sitting.
ACC turns blind eye to President Muizzu's cash handout to MPs
The President has been handing out MVR 50,000 a month to MPs from the People's National Congress (PNC), several lawmakers from the ruling party have confirmed to Adhadhu.
Although the issue of distributing cash to parliamentarians was previously reported to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the commission has yet to disclose any information regarding an ongoing investigation or any actions taken and this has drawn public criticism.
Under Article 3 of the Prevention and Prohibition of Corruption Act, offering or accepting bribes as a member of parliament is a serious criminal offense. If convicted, such an offense carries a maximum prison sentence of seven years.
Article 3(a) of the Act states that it is an offense for a member to personally, or through a third party, solicit, agree to accept, or receive a bribe in exchange for performing or refraining from an act in their official capacity. Furthermore, the law clearly stipulates that offering, promising, or agreeing to provide a bribe to influence a member's official conduct, or as a reward for such conduct, also constitutes a criminal offense.
