Fazeen resigns from BroadCom, but maintains innocence

Maldives Broadcasting Commission (BroadCom)’s vice president Mohamed Fazeen tendered his resignation on Monday, in face of a no-confidence motion against him at the Parliament over a sexual misconduct allegation.

Fazeen is accused of sexually harassing one of the commission’s female employees. The Parliament’s Independent Institutions Committee decided to initiate a no-confidence motion against Fazeen following an inquiry into the case on March 5.

Fazeen tendered his resignation to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Monday.

In his letter, Fazeen said he decided to resign because of “lack of room to execute the duties of a member of the commission with independence and impartiality.”

He also shared a letter by his legal representative denying the allegations against him. The lawyer said that investigations by the Independent Institutions Committee, the police and the Broadcom committee uncovered no proof beyond hearsay.

The committee’s inquiry report shows the committee summoned the alleged victim and other commission members and staff members of BroadCom for questioning in the case. The victim testified that Fazeen touched her without her consent and spoke inappropriately.

She testified that Fazeen not only spoke inappropriately to her, but also to a second female employee.

The committee found Fazeen guilty of misconduct, and decided it was grounds for dismissal.

Fazeen previously confirmed to Sun that he was under investigation by the Parliament over a sexual misconduct allegation, but declined to say more.

A former reporter at RaajjeTV, Fazeen was appointed as a member of Broadcom on March 7, 2021, and as the commission’s vice president on January 19, 2023.