K. Male'
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11 Sep 2017 | Mon 16:37
former STELCO Managing Director Abdul Shukoor Abdullah
former STELCO Managing Director Abdul Shukoor Abdullah
RaajjeMV
STELCO Graft
No decision made over prosecuting Shukoor: PG
Charges filed on Finance Department head
Case sent to PG Office on July 31st
ACC says the company involved in the process benefited illegally

Prosecutor General (PG) Office says the Office is yet to decide on whether to prosecute former STELCO Managing Director Abdul Shukoor Abdullah and former head of Finance Department at STELCO over the graft from STELCO.

STELCO had paid Sharu Launch Services a sum of MVR 3,084,000 in advance to acquire USD 200,000, the speed boat transfer company had failed to complete the agreed services.

When questioned about the case, PG Office media official reported to RaajjeMV that delays were as the Office was still analyzing the case. The official added details of the case will be shared with media once the case is analyzed.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) concluded the investigation into the State Electric Company (STLECO)'s decision to pay a sum of over MVR 3 million to a local company to acquire dollars, and forwarded the case to the Prosecutor General's Office for prosecution on July 31st.

Noting that Sharu Launch Services does not have the license to trade in foreign currency, ACC highlighted that the Monetary Regulation prohibits the trade of foreign currency without the license issued by the Maldives Monetary Authority.

It said that STELCO's Head of Finance Department had authorized the transaction on 2nd August 2016 without evaluating the credibility of the cheque issued by the boat transfer company.

Defending the decision, the Head of Finance Department had said that they had not evaluated the company as the cheque issued by the company had the seal of the Bank of Mauritius.

ACC further said that the investigation showed that STELCO's MD Shakoor had been aware that the cheque was dated, before the exchange and had still authorized the transaction.

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