ACC has concluded its investigation of an issue addressed in the 2007 Audit Report alleging that a total of MVR7.2 million had been unduly transferred from the budget and fund accounts of President’s Office to two significant individuals of national security service provider. The documents of President’s Office indicated that, among the MVR 7.2 billion, MVR$ 6.3 billion had been handed over to administrate ‘the special requirements of government’ while the remaining MVR 893,075.00 had been provided to ‘establish a student association in Sri Lanka. Since there seems to be no other documents present at the President’s Office regarding the MVR 7.2 million, the actual purpose of the of the utilization of this money remains unknown, as had been highlighted in the 2007 audit report.
Upon investigation, it was found that the MVR7.2 million worth of money had been transferred from the budget and fund accounts of President’s Office to the forenamed parties, following an appeal from the president’s executive secretary. The testimonies for this case reveals that such an appeal would not have been be executed unless ordered by the president of Maldives. Hence, the funds utilized by the former commissioner of police, in administrating ‘the special requirements of the government’ are considered to be provided by the president’s executive secretary in this manner. Although no specific document concerning the MVR7.2 million worth of expenditure had been gathered, other documentary evidences state the parties to whom money had been provided, along with the purpose and the amounts of transfer. Besides, the inadequacy of the documents regarding the MVR7.2 million worth of expenditure is considered to be justifiable, since, the money is said to have been utilized for confidential operations conducted by the Maldivian Police. The testimonies for this case further reveals that any details concerning the expenditure on intelligence operations, including the MVR7.2 million had not been maintained since, it includes confidential information. Moreover, the transfer of MVR.7.2 million for expenditure by the Maldivian police on intelligence purposes does not contradict with the rules and regulations of the government at that time and the president was given a wide range of control over this matter. Thereby, the investigation did not reveal any contravention with the law number 2/2000 (Prevention and Prohibition of Corruption Act), in providing the MVR7.2 million worth of money to the forenamed parties. 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.