Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has concluded its investigation on a complaint submitted to the commission, also addressed in the 2010 audit report (number: FIN-2012-02) claiming that Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture has acted unduly while paying for the various projects granted in Maldives under International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) loan scheme. It was alleged that on behalf of the government of Maldives Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture is liable to pay only a certain percentage of the total project costs however, have paid full amount for some of the projects.
Upon investigation, it was found that, as claimed on behalf of state the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture is responsible to pay a particular percentage of the total project cost of the projects covered by IFAD loan scheme. Nevertheless, it was found out that the Ministry had paid off the full project cost for some of them. Likewise, the investigation revealed that, in the year 2009 and 2010 total amount of MVR282652.00 (Two million Eight hundred and twenty-six thousand Fifty-two rufiyaa) from the ministry’s budget had being spend for the “Thimmas Market” (a temporary market) project which actually had to be covered by IFAD loan.
Besides, according to Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, these expenses seems settled to reimburse them later from IFAD loan. Indeed, as per the documents collected by the commission it was found out that on 19th June 2014 they were actually reimbursed. Thereby, the investigation did not reveal any contravention with the law number 2/2000 (Prevention and Prohibition of Corruption Act), by the actions of the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture. Hence, the case was concluded under section 25 (a) (1) of law number 13/2008 (Anti-Corruption Commission Act), as there was no offence of corruption in the case.