MMPRC corruption: MNDF refuses to disclose action taken against Naveen

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) has refused to disclose action taken against Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Naveen Zubair in connection to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) graft.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) requested the Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office) to file corruption charges against Naveen on February 27^th.

On Thursday, Sun inquired from MNDF’s Information Officer whether any action has been taken against Naveen to date. The Information Officer, however, declined to respond to the question. Sun was instructed to submit a letter or an email to Defense Ministry for answers.

In a message to the press – ACC said they are seeking six charges against Naveen. They are;

• Accepting a bribe
• Soliciting a bribe
• Agreeing to accept a bribe
• Abusing official capacity to provide undue advantage to a third party
• Possession and use of proceeds of a bribe
• Money laundering

Additionally, ACC has instructed MMPRC to recover USD 100,000 owed to the state in this particular case.

Naveen was suspended in connection to MMPRC graft in 2019 while ranked Major. He later received a promotion. Presently serving as the Director of MNDF’s Marine Corps, he is ranked Lieutenant Colonel.

Asset Recovery Commission, incepted by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to investigate MMPRC graft, has previously stated that losses incurred by state in the case will amount to MVR 3.4 billion.

Investigations showed top officials from former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom’s administration, PPM and MDP parliamentarians and individual citizens benefited from the MMPRC proceeds.

Many have criticized the current administration’s failure to recover MMPRC proceeds. The dissolution of the Asset Recovery Commission further exacerbated the criticism.

In response, the government said although Asset Recovery Commission has been dissolved, ACC will continue to probe corruption cases and seek charges when necessary.

In this regard, last week, ACC directed MMPRC to recover USD 2.46 million received by Abdulla Asim, H. Snoopy, K. Male’.