ACC has no policy to act on cases filed to defame people: President Shamil

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) President Adam Shamil has said the ACC has no specific policy to act on cases submitted to defame people, even when the allegations have no basis or truth. He made the remark in response to a question by Ibrahim Hussein, Member of Parliament for Fuvahmulah South, at a meeting of the People's Majlis Committee on Independent Institutions. Hussein asked whether a special policy should be adopted to prioritise and swiftly conclude cases submitted to defame leaders. Shamil said that although other sectors in the Maldives have ways to take action against such acts of defamation, the ACC does not have such a system. While questioning ACC members, Hussein said that cases are submitted especially to defame parties in power in the Maldives or political figures, even when those parties have not committed corruption. He added that opposition parties, or others who want to do so, submit such cases to destroy the reputation of such figures. Hussein noted that an amount of money suspected to have been obtained through corruption is placed on the head of such a figure and the figure is being harmed, and asked whether there is a policy to conclude such cases quickly and give quick answers to the people. Responding, Shamil said the law previously enforced in the Maldives to stop corruption had that policy, but the law currently in force does not have it. He also said that a strategy for how to act on cases involving allegations against figures in high positions, including the government and judiciary, is being formulated with assistance from the European Union (EU).