Parliament of the Maldives has passed the amendment bill to the Penal Code, listing illicit enrichment as a criminal offence with a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
The amendment bill to the Penal Code was submitted to the Parliament on behalf of the government by Parliamentarian Moosa Siraj. The bill establishes illicit enrichment by a public official, which can be defined as a significant increase in the assets of a public official that he or she cannot reasonably explain in relation to his or her lawful income, as a criminal offence that is punishable by a prison sentence. When the offence is committed by high ranking public officials such as president, cabinet ministers, parliamentarians and judges, it is classified as a class 2 felony punishable by 6-15 years in prison.
The amendment bill to the Penal Code was passed with votes from 50 parliamentarians. It will come into effect following the ratification of the bill by the President.