Friday
27th Dec 2024
Dhivehi Edition
PG Hussain Shameem
Transparency Maldives stated that the State's decision to not prosecute SOF Pvt Ltd for corruption was "unacceptable".
The statement released today by Transparency Maldives; an NGO dedicated to eliminating corruption; expressed "concern" that although eight years after the embezzlement scandal involving SOF Pvt Ltd had come to light: justice had not been served in that time, and the State had not disclosed the identities of any of the persons who had profited from the crime.
The statement also commented that given that the State had failed to bring the culprits to justice in a case of that scale; it seemed unclear as to why the State had entered into plea bargains with SOF Pvt Ltd to recover funds that had been embezzled in other ways.
While the law was clear on the penalties for money laundering, the statement mentioned that it was unclear how the State was granted the legal leeway to enter into plea bargains that could fully excuse any given party from a crime.
The State's decision to not prosecute SOF Pvt Ltd came to light during the proceedings of a trial. Transparency's statement mentioned that it was a matter of "great concern that such plea bargains had been made with participants of an act of corruption".
Transparency Maldives called upon the State to disclose any parties who would benefit from any plea bargains that may have been made with the suspects.
Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem denied that the State had entered into any plea bargains with SOF Pvt Ltd.