Govt never influenced graft watchdog, Shamil says

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has not been influenced by the government, and public doubts about its independence may arise due to the pace of investigations, ACC Chairperson Adam Shamil said Wednesday.

Shamil made the statement while responding to a question from a member of the Parliament’s Independent Institutions Committee.

PNC MP Abdulla Shareef asked whether the government or any government official had any influence on the ACC’s work, noting that public concern exists regarding the commission’s independence.

In response, Shamil said the Constitution mandates the ACC to work “without hesitation.” He added that while some people question the commission’s independence because of the speed of investigations, no government has ever influenced its work.

Shamil said some believe investigations are intentionally delayed, but the reasons vary depending on the complexity of the cases. The ACC’s investigations differ from audits, as the commission must process cases through the criminal justice system, which also faces its own limitations in technical capacity and resources.

“It is unlikely that any case has been delayed due to influence on the ACC,” Shamil said. “Since taking on this role, neither the current government nor any official has instructed the ACC to investigate, not to investigate, expedite, or delay any case. I have not received any such direction, directly or indirectly.”

He said delays in some cases may lead people to think otherwise, but the commission continues its work independently.

During the meeting, the ACC shared statistics from last year, including the number of cases received, investigated, and referred for prosecution, along with ongoing challenges.

According to the data:

ACC Director of Prevention Fathimath Ibna said some submissions were rejected due to unclear allegations, lack of information, or falling outside the commission’s mandate. Others were rejected because of repeated or duplicate complaints.

She also highlighted several challenges facing the ACC, including budget constraints, operating from a rented building, and difficulties in ensuring the security of sensitive data and the safety of people appearing before the commission.