Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has said it has been requested by Prosecutor General's Office to conduct a further probe into what ACC has described as negligence on the part of central bank, Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), in trying to prevent money laundering in connection with the corruption scandal of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). ACC has investigated loans awarded by MMA, Bank of Maldives (BML) and MMPRC in connection with the corruption scandal.
Speaking with PSM News Vice President of ACC Muavviz Rasheed said MMA was negligent in the fact the central bank did nothing to stop MMPRC from depositing state funds in the bank account of SOF Private Limited and allowing them to launder money from the state. He said the ACC investigated the case and shared their findings with the Prosecutor General's Office who in turn has advised to probe further into the matter. He added as it is the Maldives Police Service that has been granted the powers to carry out further investigations the case has been forwarded to the institution.
People that have been questioned in connection with the money laundering case include former MMA Governor Azeema Adam, former MMA Head of the Financial Intelligence Department Ibrahim Athif Shakoor and some senior employees of the central bank.