Nasheed: MIRA was not formed as a political weapon

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has criticized the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) saying that it was not formed to be used as a political weapon.

MIRA is an independent institute formed in 2010 under the tax law passed by the Parliament.

In a tweet sent out last night by the former President, he said that freezing the accounts of businesses every time the government is stuck politically proves that MIRA’s actions have political motive.

Refuting the former President’s remarks, the Spokesperson of MIRA, Mohamed Shahid told Sun Media today that MIRA is not an institute that makes political decisions and that they make decisions within the law as per the regulation.

Ex-President Nasheed made the remark after the accounts of Qasim Ibrahim’s Villa Shipping and Trading were frozen along with those of Yacht Tours, which belongs to the former MP of Kaashidhoo constituency, Abdulla Jabir under the orders of MIRA.

Both Qasim and Jabir is involved in the opposition-led no confidence motion pending against the President of the Parliament, Abdulla Maseeh.

In his tweet, the former President said that the Commissioner General of Taxation, Yazeed Mohamed will be held accountable regarding the actions of MIRA.

MIRA has a board of a total seven members which includes the Commissioner General of Taxation and the Deputy Commissioner General of Taxation.

All seven were selected to the board with the approval of the Parliament.