A government bill to amend the Penal Code, intended to clear legal hurdles to investigating and prosecuting corruption and illicit enrichment in state institutions, has been stalled in parliament for nearly two years.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu first announced the amendment on 31 October 2024, calling it a key legal reform to curb corruption. In a post on X at the time, he said the changes would make it much easier to investigate illicit enrichment across the state.
He said amending Section 515 of the Penal Code would allow full investigation of illicitly obtained wealth held by current and former state officials, including the president, cabinet ministers, MPs and judges.
Under the amendment, four acts are defined as crimes. It makes illicit enrichment by senior officials, such as the president, ministers, MPs and judges, a second-degree felony, and the same offence by other state employees a third-degree felony.
The Bills Timeline
October 31, 2024: President Muizzu announces the planned amendments to the Penal Code.
November 4, 2024: First reading of the bill is held in the People's Majlis.
November 5–6, 2024: Preliminary debates on the bill take place.
November 13, 2024: Parliament formally accepts the bill and sends it to the Judiciary Committee for review, where it has remained stalled since.
The government has called the bill a central reform to root out corruption and stop illicit enrichment. Even so, it remains stuck in a parliament where the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) holds a supermajority. Muizzu still says publicly that his government will show zero tolerance for corruption, whoever is involved.
