New govt to reignite probe into ventilator graft despite arbitration win

The government will investigate the alleged corruption involved in the procuring of ventilators during the Covid-19 pandemic, Attorney General's office said Monday.

The then government Dubai-based Executors International company in April 2020 to purchase 75 ventilators during the health emergency declared in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The company was paid MVR 30 million, which is 90% of the contract value without obtaining the necessary financial guarantees. 

After Executors supplied only 15 ventilators, AG in February last year had filed a case with the Maldives International Arbitration Centre seeking MVR 32 million in compensation. 

The arbitration center last Wednesday had ruled in favor of the government.

AG in a statement on Monday said despite the arbitration win, it has asked the relevant authorities to investigate the transgressions in the deal with Executors.

After the initial investigation, the country's Anti-Corruption Commission had sought corruption charges against more than a dozen health ministry officials including the then health minister Abdulla Ameen. 

However, citing lack of evidence, the Prosecutor General's Office repeatedly refused to file charges, forcing the ACC to finally file the case.