ACC probes MP Shujau in corruption case

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) announced that they have initiated an investigation into the cases outlined in the report prepared by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the central bank, Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), which has leveled significant corruption accusations against Ibrahim Shujau, the Member of Parliament representing the Baarah constituency.

ACC has stated they are looking into the large amounts of money deposited into companies linked to the lawmaker, and the Maldives Police Service (MPS) is also conducting an investigation into the matter. The police department announced that they have been looking into the case since April. Nonetheless, the authorities have yet to reveal the details. ACC disclosed that they were looking into the case only after it gained media attention.

ACC has indicated that they are looking into the matter on their own accord. ACC did not offer any additional information.

The leaked document includes transactions that took place between 1 November 2022 and 10 January 2024. The report states that ‘Quick Sure’, a firm linked to Shujau, obtained over MVR 10.5 million from the Malé City Council while Dr. Mohamed Muizzu served as Mayor. The FIU report indicates that based on information from Threshold Transaction Reports (TTRs), transactions totaling MVR 10,545,232.60 took place between a company named 'Quick Sure' and the Malé City Council from 2 November 2022 to 7 November 2023

The report reveals specifics of the mentioned transactions, indicating a total of 12 dealings between the company and the Malé City Council. Of these transactions, the lowest amount is MVR 265,000, whereas two transactions of MVR 2.3 million each are recorded as the highest amounts.

This time aligns with when the current President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu was the Mayor of Malé City. The report notes that during this time, Ibrahim Shujau, the sibling of Mohamed Nafiz - the proprietor of Quick Sure, and the sitting parliamentarian for Baarah constituency linked to the primary ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), served as a councilor for Hulhumalé in the Malé City Council.

Furthermore, the report encompasses transactions associated with the inauguration ceremony of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, which took place on 17 November 2023. The report indicates that the incumbent president's inauguration ceremony, which cost MVR 23.03 million, was improperly awarded to SIFCO by exploiting the law.

Following the award of the MVR 23.03 million project to MNDF-run SIFCO, the company subcontracted the work to three additional parties, as stated in the report. These include Official Events Private Limited, owned by Shujau; Quick Sure, owned by his relative; and D.G. Holdings Private Limited. The report indicates that these parties are interconnected and that their proprietors have ties to the current government, possessing political sway.