ACC to investigate ministers Shaheem and Jihad creating company with foreigner

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated an investigation into a case accusing Minister of Islamic Affairs Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed and Minister of Finance Abdullah Jihad of having created a company with a foreigner before they assumed their posts as minsters.

Article 15 (a) of the Prevention and Prohibition of Corruption Act states that it is an offence for the Chief Justice, the Speaker of Parliament, a member of the cabinet, a Minister of State or a person of similar status, the Auditor General, the Commissioner of Elections, a Judge of the High Court of Maldives, an Atoll Chief, their spouses, and employees of government appointed by the president and their spouses, to run or manage any type of business in conjunction with foreigners.

Islamic Minister Shaheem told Sun that the company with Jihad was established before he assumed the post of a minister.

He said that the purpose of the company was to introduce Islamic tourism to the Maldives, and that he had not been involved in any activities of that company after he assumed the post of a minister.

Shaheem acknowledged that the company however remains registered under his and Jihad’s names.

President of ACC Hassan Luthfy said that a case had been filed to the commission, accusing Islamic Minister Shaheem and Finance Minister Jihad of having registered a business with a foreigner, and that an investigation will be initiated into this case soon.

The purpose of the company established by Shaheem and Jihad, called ISI Investment Limited, was to operate tourist resorts. It was registered in 2010.

Meanwhile, the ACC has forwarded a case to the Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office against Shaheem’s wife, Afiya Waheed, accusing her of having created a company with a businessman from Dubai, who has also promised to donate $10,000 monthly to the Zakat Fund.