Anti-Corruption of the Maldives (ACC) has stated it has requested the Prosecutor General (PG) to raise charges against 11 officials of the Ministry of Health in relation to contracting Dubai-based Executor General Trading to procure ventilators to the Maldives.
Irregularities in awarding contracts for ventilator procurement were first identified in the COVID-19 compliance audit conducted on the health ministry by the Auditor General’s Office. The audit report revealed Executors General Trading was paid 90% of the quoted price in advance to procure 75 ventilators in April, whilst no ventilators were procured despite several months having passed since signing the contract. The audit report also revealed the company was selected without assessing its financial and technical capabilities, in addition to not obtaining advance payment and performance guarantees.
ACC stated information was collected from 8 different institutions during the investigation with the commission evaluating 1,600 documents and 500 emails to probe into the case. Additionally, it collected 36 statements and various bank statements to investigate the case.
ACC concluded the contacted was awarded to Executors General Trading without due diligence and technical evaluations. The investigations also found Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen guilty of misusing official capacity and influencing the contract award as he encouraged awarding the contract to Executors General Trading and making the 75% advanced payment and 15% percent of balance payment. ACC noted the contract violated Public Finance Regulations.
After the investigations, ACC requested to press charges against Minister Ameen, Deputy Ministers Nishama Mohamed and Shiyama Mohamed, Directors Naushad Ali and Ahmed Aslam, Deputy Director General Abdulla Shareef, Assistant Directors Abdulla Hafeez and Fathimath Limya, Legal Officer Ali Shiham, Assistant Administrative Officer Hussain Niyaz, and Bid Committee Member Aminath Shaufa.