Friday
26th Apr 2024
Dhivehi Edition
Disclosures on salaries and perks paid to Mariyam Afnaan, the third secretary at the Maldivian Embassy in the UK, has been made public.
Afnaan is the daughter of West Maafannu Member of Parliament Mohamed Falaah.
Dhiyares had petitioned for details on her pay package under the Right to Information Act. The disclosure shows the state spends on average MVR 1.5 million (around US$ 97,729.20) – this averages to around MVR 137,000 (around US$ 8,925.93) a month.
- Breakdown of Afnaan’s pay
- - Basic salary: MVR 95,160 (US$ 6,199.94)
- - Ramadan allowance: MVR 3,000 (US$ 195.46)
- - Special allowance to the position: MVR 113,615 (US$ 7,402.34)
- - Commuting allowance: MVR 55,142 (US$ 3,592.66)
- - Dependent’s allowance: MVR 1,182,961 (US$ 77,073.22)
- - Other allowances: MVR 114,540 (US$ 7,462.60)
- - Total: MVR 1,564,418 (US$ 101,926.21)
Afnaan was appointed to the position in January 2020. Dependent’s allowance is the largest share of the pay package. With the pay at MVR 1,182,961 (US$ 77,073.22), Afnaan’s sole dependent is her spouse.
Based on the information shared with Dhiyares by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the maximum amount an individual at the post of Third Secretary, amounts to MVR 21,531 or US$ 1,402.80 a month – the amount is to cover the spouse and two children. If it is just one dependent, then the amount drops down to MVR 14,354 (US$ 935.20). Therefore, Afnaan would at most be eligible to receive MVR 172,248 or US$ 11,222.44 annually as dependent’s allowance.
However, her amount is six times over the set amount.
An official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to Dhiyares that she had received the job due to MP Falaah’s intervention.
MP Falaah is no stranger to intervention. His son, Thoibaan, was arrested for public intoxication – MP Falaah had intervened, securing his son’s release. No charges were raised on the son.
Over 80 percent of individuals appointed to Embassies, Consulates, and High Commissions during this administration had close ties to heads of the state or Members of Parliament.
Based on the information shared with Dhiyares by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the maximum amount an individual at the post of Third Secretary, amounts to MVR 21,531 or US$ 1,402.80 a month – the amount is to cover the spouse and two children. If it is just one dependent, then the amount drops down to MVR 14,354 (US$ 935.20). Therefore, Afnaan would at most be eligible to receive MVR 172,248 or US$ 11,222.44 annually as dependent’s allowance.
However, her amount is six times over the set amount.
An official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to Dhiyares that she had received the job due to MP Falaah’s intervention.
MP Falaah is no stranger to intervention. His son, Thoibaan, was arrested for public intoxication – MP Falaah had intervened, securing his son’s release. No charges were raised on the son.
Over 80 percent of individuals appointed to Embassies, Consulates, and High Commissions during this administration had close ties to heads of the state or Members of Parliament.