The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has completed its investigation on a case regarding “Mushaf Maldeef” donation program reported to the commission also addressed in the Special Audit Report of the trust funds of Ministry of Islamic affairs (number: SPE-2015-34 – 30th December 2015).
The claim stated that in collaboration with Quran Care Society of Bahraini (QCSB), Ministry of Islamic Affairs of Maldives (MOIA) initiated a special program by the aiming to deliver a copy of Holy Quran to every Maldivian. According to the MoU signed between two parties regarding the matter, 300,000 Arabic copy of Holy Quran and 50,000 copy of Holy Quran Dhivehi Translation has been agreed to be delivered to MOIA. Moreover, it was alleged that a total of MVR 1068,905.00 (one million sixty-eight thousand nine hundred and five rufiyaa) was deposited by various donators till 31st March 2015 to a bank account opened predominantly for this program and the amount was later transferred to “Vaguf Fund” (Charity fund dedicated to assisting and promoting Islamic programs).
The claim further pointed that the MOIA has approved to deposit the whole amount to an account requested by QCSB however, it doesn’t truly define the total quantity per amount deposited. Likewise, neither the term and conditions of the job including price per quantity nor the delivery details were being discussed between parties or agreed.
Upon investigation the following particulars were demonstrated.
- In 2014, an MoU regarding “Mushaf Maldeef” program was signed between MOIA, and QCSB under which 300,000 copy of Holy Quaran (Arabic) and 50,000 copy of Holy Quran Dhivehi Translation has been agreed to be delivered to MOIA. Despite the fact, the terms and conditions as claimed were not discussed and agreed between two parties, noteworthy is the fact that before depositing the amount to the account provided by QCSB, on 18th February 2016 a delegation from MOIA met with QCSB and confirmed the price per “Mushaf” was US$3.
- The investigation revealed that the total donation granted to “Mushaf Maldeef” project (MVR 2,175,520.35) was solely spent on its printing. Moreover, documents communicated between “Jamiyyathul Riyaayathul Mushafu-Shareef” and MOIA on 6th November 2016 disclosed that at the time that the shipment was already being transported to Sri Lanka in order to be carried to Maldives. Indeed, 100,000 copies were printed from Dhubai and were transported to Sri Lanka targeting to be brought to Maldives as earliest as possible.
- At the time of investigation, while “Mushaf Maldeef” was an ongoing project and the surplus received was to sum the agreed 300,000 copies for which total amount of MVR 2,175,520.35 was paid by MOIA, Maldives.
Hence, ACC did not find any evidence proving that the Ministry’s actions were executed for the purpose of providing an undue advantage to a third party. Thereby, the investigation did not reveal any contraventions with the law number 2/2000 (Prevention and Prohibition of Corruption Act), in this case. Henceforth, the case was concluded under section 25 (a) (1) of law number 13/2008 (Anti-Corruption Act), as there was no offence of corruption.