ACC has concluded its investigation of a complaint alleging that Ministry of Islamic Affairs has unduly informed the Ministry of Finance and Treasury to deposit $12,000.00 to the account of Sadhaqaath Foundation (a Maldivian private association correlated to the first lady Fathimath Ibrahim didi) out of the $24,000.00 received to the ministry’s Islamic fund, Vagufu Fund, from a private party of Abu Dhabi.
Upon investigation, it was found that a foundation from Abu Dhabi had donated $24,980.00 as a financial assistance, which was initially deposited to the Maldives Monetary Authority’s public bank account in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, for the purpose of planning and carrying out a program named “Iftar Program” during 1437’s Ramadan. It was also found that the forenamed donor had instructed the Islamic Ministry that the financial assistance provided by them could be used to run the Iftar program via any particular mosque/group of mosques, Quran classes, orphanages or through associations that provide welfare services. Therefore, the Islamic Ministry requested the Finance Ministry for the money to be transferred to its Vagufu Fund (a fund dedicated to assisting and promoting Islamic programs), upon which the request was granted and the money transferred.
Also noteworthy is the fact that the donor under discussion has a record of providing assistance for various Islamic associations and programs held in Maldives even prior to this, including the private financial association under question – the Sadhaqaath Foundation. Moreover, the $24,980 donated to the Islamic Ministry’s fund was issued for the purpose of assisting fasting programs held by the Ministry, charitable purposes, various religious activities and other activities planned for the Ramadan, and as discussed and agreed upon by the Islamic Ministry and the heads of the Abu Dhabi foundation, the Islamic Ministry requested the Finance Ministry to deposit $12,000 to the Sadhaqaath Foundation’s account out of the total finance gifted by the Abu Dhabi’s foundation.
As per the Trust Statement of the Vaguf Fund, any donations provided by a third party can be spent for the specific purpose/purposes outlined by the donor. Owing to the fact that the Abu Dhabi’s foundation had specified the purposes for which the finance provided by them can be utilized, it was evident that the finance could be used by the Islamic Ministry for those specific purposes, as was done by the Ministry. Furthermore, according to the Vaguf Fund’s Articles of Association, when issuing any finance received by the fund, it is the committee’s responsibility to decide upon the quantity to be issued. In reference to this, on the 12th meeting held by the Vaguf Fund’s committee, a decision was arrived to deposit $12,000.00 to the Sadhaqaath Foundation out of the total finance received from the Abu Dhabi’s foundation.
Nonetheless, although Ministry of Islamic Affairs had requested Ministry of Finance and Treasury via a letter to transfer the received fund to the Sadhaqaath Foundation, the letter was later cancelled by the Islamic Ministry. Moreover, as the Finance Ministry had not taken any action corresponding to the letter, the investigation did not reveal any contravention with the law number 2/2000 (Prevention and Prohibition of Corruption Act) with regard to this case. 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.