Prosecutor General (PG) Hussain Shameem has revealed a decision on the case against Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment Ahmed Mahloof will be made after the administrative work is completed.
Speaking at a press conference, PG Shameem said such cases require numerous evidence and documents as well as a large amount of administrative work. The case is currently at a standstill as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) needs to complete an administrative task, he said, adding it does not mean the authorities are refusing to move forward with the case.
ACC charged Mahloof under Article 2(a) of the Anti-Corruption Act, on the counts of bribery and embezzlement in relation to the corruption scandal of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). ACC has also charged Mahloof under Article 521 of the Penal Code of the Maldives for providing false information to an investigative authority.
Furthermore, responding to a question posed by a journalist at the press conference, PG Shameem said he does not believe that every court ruling against the state should be appealed. He highlighted how the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) previously had a policy of appealing every court ruling, resulting in appealing small and inconsequential cases. He said the PGO should focus on appealing cases that are related to the public interest or the interpretation of the constitution.
He also said he has formulated a standard operating procedure that has improved the efficiency of the PGO's work to file court cases.