Two investigations regarding GMR will be concluded soon: ACC

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has said today that two investigations carried out by the commission involving GMR will be concluded soon.

The commission has finished an investigation regarding the $27 Airport Development Charge (ADC) agreed to be deducted from the concession fees payable to the government and has forwarded the case to the Prosecutor General’s (PG) office for prosecution. The two current investigations involve the issue of granting exemptions from fuel concession charges by the government and the issue regarding the airport being awarded to GMR for management.

President of ACC Hassan Luthfee said that the investigation regarding the exemptions granted on fuel concession charges is being delayed because a person involved in the case is currently out of the country and that the investigation will be closed as soon as the commission can obtain the person’s statement.

“We are trying to get the person’s statement, even if it’s through the phone. The person says that it will be some days before he can come to Male’. The investigation is being delayed because we have not been able to obtain the statement of an important person [to the investigation]. We are trying to get the statement even if it’s through the phone. Our work will be finished once we get that statement,” said Luthfee.

He said that the investigation regarding issue of the airport being awarded to GMR for management can only be concluded after the Auditor General (AG) finishes his investigation regarding the case and that he has been signaled that the AG’s investigation will be closed within the month. He also said that these investigations require obtaining evidence against the parties responsible and that these investigations take time.

“If not, the case will not proceed in court. When somebody is accused and sent to PG for prosecution, the case will only be successful if it shows statements and evidence. So we are carrying out our investigations with consideration to this,” said Luthfee.

In the case regarding the $27 ADC, ACC has asked the PG to seek a compensation of MVR 358.8 million from former Finance Minister Mohamed Shihab and former Chairman of Maldives Airport Development Company (MACL) Bandhu Ibrahim Saleem (KudaBandhey).

ACC is currently seeking assistance from foreign experts regarding GMR case.