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Maldives Government Faces Call to Action on Corruption Scandal

The government of the Maldives has been urged by Transparency International and its national chapter, Transparency Maldives, to take decisive action against those implicated in the country’s high-profile MMPRC corruption scandal.

Background

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration was elected on a platform of zero tolerance for corruption. However, critics argue that the recent arrest of former President Abdulla Yameen is just the beginning.

The Corruption Scandal

The scandal involved the Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) handing out lucrative leases on islands and reefs in exchange for alleged bribes and kickbacks. The scheme was first exposed by Al Jazeera in 2016 and later detailed island-by-island by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) in 2018.

Key Figures Implicated

The Maldives Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) published a list of 155 individuals and companies implicated in the scheme on February 14, 2019. This includes politicians from across the political spectrum and highlights the extent to which corruption has been embedded in the country’s luxury tourism development.

Transparency International’s Demands

Transparency International is calling for an investigation into:

  • The heads of key financial institutions, including the Maldives Monetary Authority, Bank of Maldives, and Maldives Islamic Bank
  • The board members of MMPRC to be investigated and prosecuted in a fair trial
  • Transfers of US dollars made into accounts in United States banks to be investigated by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation Kleptocracy Unit

Next Steps for President Solih’s Administration

In order for President Solih’s administration to live up to its campaign pledge, Transparency Maldives urges the government to take immediate action to:

  • Strengthen the country’s banking system to prevent further abuse
  • Launch legal action to recover money and property stolen from the public
  • Ensure that all those implicated in the scheme are held accountable

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