Mahloof disqualified from contesting in MDP National Council elections

Youth Minister Ahmed Mahloof has been informed that he is disqualified from contesting in Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) National Council elections.

In a letter sent to Mahloof signed by MDP’s Secretary-General Shaazly Shafeeg last night, it was stated that Mahloof did not meet the requirements to compete for the Presidency of North Province (Kaafu, Alifu Alifu, Alifu Dhaalu, and Vaavu) in the National Council elections in the capacity of a cabinet minister.

The letter detailed that this is as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has informed MDP that there is a case against Mahloof lodged at the Commission – noting that prior to this MDP’s National Executive Committee had decided that if an individual is named in a corruption case by any authority, they will not be eligible to compete in the National Council elections.

Criticizing the decision by MDP, Mahloof stated via a tweet today as ‘inexplicable’. In this regard, he further detailed that he is eligible to contest for the post of the president, a parliament member, and also a local council member as no criminal charges against him has been proven in court.

“As long a criminal charge has not been proven – it is possible to contest. I will work to ensure I have this right,” he had said.

Mahloof also added that the decision to not allow him to contest in the elections is against MDP’s ideologies as the party has always been a strong advocate of the right to contest in elections.

ACC requested the PGO for charges against Mahloof in connection to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) case on June 9.

ACC said their investigation found that in 2014, then-parliamentarian Mahloof received USD 33,000 in funds stolen from MMPRC as a bribe from then-Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor to remain a member of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and vote for the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Bill.

ACC said Mahloof arrived at the Parliament on August 27, 2014, after traveling from Malaysia, for the sole purpose of voting for the SEZ Bill.

However, Mahloof rejected the allegation, stating that he voted in accordance with the three-line whip issued by PPM.

ACC found a USD 33,000 cheque was deposited to Mahloof’s bank account by SOF Private Limited – the company accused of laundering the stolen funds.

ACC said that though Mahloof submitted a ‘Payment Received’ slip in the name of SOF as evidence it had been a legitimate business transaction to procure US dollars, the commission had witnesses and other evidence as proof it had not been a legitimate business transaction.

However, Mahloof said the PGO does not have any evidence to make the charges stick in court.

Mahloof has also shared his concerns over the investigation to the public, alleging that PGO is handling his case differently than other MMPRC cases and also that a group of politicians are conspiring against him to oust him from office.