AGO considers introducing designated law on mandatory asset declaration

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is considering introducing a designated law on mandatory asset declarations or financial declarations, according to Attorney General Ahmed Usham.

The remark comes as the Parliament reviews three separate bills on asset declarations.

Usham, who attended a parliamentary sitting on Wednesday morning, was asked by Central Hithadhoo MP Ahmed Azaan, a lawmaker from the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), regarding whether the AGO is working on drafting a designated law on asset declarations.

Usham responded that an asset declaration law is not part of the PNC administration’s current legislative agenda.

But he said that he has come to understand the importance of introducing such a law in light of the recent bills submitted to the Parliament seeking to revise multiple laws to mandate asset declarations.

“I, too, believe that having a designated asset declaration law under which various public officials must declare their assets is the best way. Therefore, we too, are considering submitting an asset declaration bill to the Parliament,” he said.

The remarks come after North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudu) – a lawmaker from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) – submitted three bills on asset declarations.

This includes a constitutional amendment seeking to dock the salaries of cabinet ministers who fail to submit their asset declarations on time, an amendment to the Privatization and Corporation Act to mandate asset declarations of top officials of State-Owned Enterprises - chairpersons, chief operating officers, managing directors and deputy managing directors, and an amendment to the Audit Act to mandate asset declarations of members of independent commissions, individuals appointed to autonomous roles, and heads of statutory bodies and state agencies and offices.

All three bills were accepted into the Parliament with bipartisan support, and are currently under review by relevant committees.