Meekail accuses govt of using asset recovery bill to ‘blackmail’ businesses

Galolhu South MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem has accused the government of introducing the proposed Asset Recovery Bill to “blackmail” Maldivian businesses, raising concerns over provisions that would allow assets linked to criminal activity to be confiscated in certain circumstances without a criminal conviction.

The bill, sponsored in Parliament by Central Fuvahmulah MP Ali Fazad of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), seeks to establish procedures for recovering assets obtained through serious crimes and preventing offenders from continuing to benefit from criminal proceeds.

Under the proposed legislation, assets could be confiscated following a criminal conviction, while civil forfeiture proceedings could be pursued in specified circumstances without a conviction if the property is established as proceeds of crime under the applicable civil standard of proof. The bill would also apply to certain assets connected to offences committed before the legislation comes into force.

Speaking during the parliamentary debate on the bill, Meekail said its stated purpose and what he alleged to be the government’s actual intention were different.

He claimed the legislation was intended to pressure businesses and political opponents of the government.

“The objective of this bill is to blackmail Maldivian business owners,” Meekail said.

Meekail also questioned the timing of the legislation, referring to the recent resignation of a presidential adviser who had said he would no longer invest in the Maldives.

“This bill has been introduced at a time when a person who served as an adviser to President Mohamed Muizzu has resigned and said he would never invest in the Maldives again,” he said.

Meekail linked the bill to other recent disputes between the government and businesses, including foreign exchange policy and the Ras Malé development project. He alleged that the government had sought to pressure businesses over the dollar issue and was now introducing the legislation to discourage criticism of the Ras Malé project.

He also referred to previous remarks by President Muizzu concerning money laundering among businesses, alleging that the Asset Recovery Bill was part of the same approach.

Meekail argued that provisions allowing property to be confiscated without a criminal conviction raised constitutional concerns.

“Allowing people’s property to be seized without a conviction being proven is a violation of fundamental rights,” he said.

Under the bill, the Prosecutor General would be able to seek civil restraint or forfeiture orders where property is alleged to be proceeds of crime, without first securing a criminal conviction. Such proceedings would apply a civil standard of proof rather than the criminal standard.

The bill would also allow law enforcement agencies to seek court orders to covertly monitor bank accounts for up to three months where there are reasonable grounds to believe an account contains assets liable to confiscation.

Meekail alleged that the legislation formed part of a broader political strategy ahead of the 2028 presidential election.

“What we see now is that the purpose they are trying to achieve through this bill is to blackmail Maldivian business owners,” he said.

He accused the government of attempting to suppress criticism and pressure businesses in pursuit of re-election, an allegation made by the opposition MP during the parliamentary debate and not established as fact.

Meekail urged MPs to consider the implications of the legislation before voting on it.

He also argued that the bill could affect investor confidence, claiming that government policies had already prompted concerns among investors.

The government and MPs supporting the legislation have presented the bill as a mechanism to strengthen the recovery of assets obtained through criminal activity. Fazad has said its objectives include preventing those involved in serious crimes from retaining financial benefits obtained through those offences and establishing procedures to recover illegally acquired property.

The proposed framework would cover assets connected to offences including money laundering, corruption, terrorism financing, drug and human trafficking, organised crime and certain cases of tax evasion, fraud and theft. It would also establish an Asset Management Authority and a fund to manage recovered assets and provide compensation to victims.