Parliament votes to dismiss officials on list of MMPRC corruption suspects

The Parliament has voted in favor of dismissing state officials on the list of suspected beneficiaries of the MMPRC corruption scandal compiled by Corruption and Asset Recovery Commission.

The list in question was provided to a joint parliamentary committee which conducted an inquiry into the MMPRC case. The list includes the names of 282 people, including 119 incumbent and former state officials. This includes government ministers and parliamentarians.

The committee decided following its inquiry to recommend that the Corruption and Asset Recovery Commission expedite its investigation into the case, citing that former and incumbent state officials have the opportunity to access information within the state network and exert influence, and recommend the Anti-Corruption Commission provide Asset Recovery Commission with full access to their employees and technical resources for the joint investigation.

They also recommended that suspected beneficiaries be dismissed from their state positions during investigative and prosecution stages, and to expedite investigations against elected officials as they cannot be removed from power unless they voluntarily resign or are dismissed through a court ruling.

PARLIAMENTARIANS ON LIST ABSTAINED FROM VOTE

The committee’s report was passed by the parliament floor with the vote of 45 on Wednesday afternoon. There were 58 parliamentarians present at the sitting.

The list includes the names of 16 members of the 19^th parliamentary assembly. Seven of them were present during Wednesday’s parliamentary sitting, but six chose to abstain from voting. Only MDP parliamentary group leader, Ali Azim, whose name is also on the list, voted in favor of the report.

The 16 incumbent parliamentarians on the list are:

• Maavah MP Mohamed Saeed 
• Guraidhoo MP Ghassan Maumoon 
• Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim
• Maradhoo MP Ibrahim Shareef (Mavota)
• Dhangethi MP Mohamed Nazim
• K. Guraidhoo MP Ibrahim Riza
• Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem (Redwave Saleem)
• Kendhikulhudhoo MP Ahmed Easa
• Vilingili MP Saud Hussain
• Faresmaathoda MP Hussain Mohamed Latheef
• Mahibadhoo MP Ahmed Toriq (Tom)
• Nilandhoo MP Abdul Muhsin Hameed (J4)
• Naifaru MP Ahmed Shiyam
• Kendhoo MP Ali Hussain
• Mulah MP Ibrahim Naseer
• Kudahuvadhoo MP Ahmed Amir

Parliamentarians on the list who were present but abstained from the vote:

• Naifaru MP Ahmed Shiyam (PPM)
• Mahibadhoo MP Ahmed Toriq (Tom) (PPM)
• Th. Guraidhoo MP Ghassan Maumoon (PPM)
• Maavah MP Mohamed Saeed (PNC)
• Faresmaathoda MP Hussain Mohamed Latheef
• Maradhoo MP Ibrahim Shareef (Mavota) (MDP)

Other parliamentarians who were present but abstained from the vote:

• Vilimale’ MP Ahmed Usham (Independent)
• Nolhivaram MP Ahmed Nasheed (Independent)
• Ungoofaaru MP Mohamed Waheed (MDP)
• Maduvvari MP Adam Shareef Umar (PNC)
• Thulusdhoo MP Ibrahim Naseem (Independent)
• South Fuvahmulah MP Mohamed Mumthaz (MDP)