Underperforming ACC members to be removed from posts after performance audit

Parliament’s Committee on Independent Institutions has decided to initiate a performance audit of the members of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and subsequently remove them from their posts should the Committee deem they are underperforming. 

The Committee made the decision during a convening held yesterday where discussions took place on actions that can be taken for ACC’s failure to carry out their work at a speed the Committee would like them to.

Committee member, Inguraidhoo MP Hassan Ahmed proposed that each ACC member be summoned to the Committee separately to be inquired about the cases they have been investigating since their appointment.

On this note, MP Hassan Ahmed proposed to inquire regarding the work carried out to recover monies lost to the state, cases which were forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s Office and cases that are currently under investigation.

“I propose to summon each ACC member separately to the Committee and inquire about the work they have carried out to recover monies lost to the state since their appointment,” he had said.

Seconding MP Hassan Ahmed’s proposal, South Henveiru MP Hussain Shaheem said that he does not believe that ACC members are carrying out their duties responsibly.

In this regard, he highlighted that ACC had failed to conclude investigation on major cases such as ones related to the MMPRC graft scandal for the dates they had pledged to conclude them for.

MP Shaheem also added that saying it will take them eight months to conclude the investigation on the MMPRC graft scandal is something which the Maldivian people and even MDP cannot accept.

“I propose for us to summon them, and question them separately, assess their performance and if the Committee sees that they are underperforming, to initiate the process to remove them from their posts,” he added.

MP Shaheem’s proposal was seconded by Bilehdhoo MP Ahmed Haleem. It was later on passed with the unanimous vote of all members of the Committee in attendance.

Following this, Committee’s Chairperson, Meedhoo MP Rozaina Adam had decided that they will be separately meeting all ACC members in a day allocated for the purpose next week.