The Prosecutor General’s (PG) office has confirmed that it is ready to move forward with charges against those culpable for graft over the leasing of nine islands in what is considered to be the largest corruption scandal in Maldivian history.
It has been two months since the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) announced that it has concluded its investigation into the corruption case, involving the state-operated Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC).
However, an official from the PG’s office said that prosecutors have asked the ACC to provide the necessary information and documentation so they can move forward with judicial proceedings. Although they are yet to do so, the official said.
While the case involved over 50 islands and lagoons, the official further said that it is working to move for prosecution on the rest as well.
The graft case, unveiled by a state audit report, names MVR 1.22 billion in funds from the MMPRC to be missing and unaccounted for. Authorities have since then claimed the actual embezzled figure to exceed this.