Maldives Anti-Corruption Academy to Launch Diploma Course for Investigators Next Year

The Maldives National Anti-Corruption Academy (MNAACA) has decided to start a diploma course accredited by the Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) next year to address the issue of the lack of investigators in the Maldives to investigate corruption. Regarding this course, MNAACA's Director General Ibrahim Taziib stated that the biggest challenge currently facing the thorough investigation of corruption cases in the Maldives is the lack of technically skilled and trained investigators. Taziib described the MQA-accredited diploma course being prepared to start next year as a very important step towards solving this issue and building a new generation of investigators with modern skills at international standards. This diploma course is a program designed to meet international benchmarks in the investigative field. Through this course, it will be taught how to maintain ethical standards required for investigative work, maintain integrity, and develop skills to manage cases robustly. Additionally, it has been decided to build capacity in obtaining evidence under legal provisions, maintaining evidence securely, ensuring the chain of custody, digital forensics, and analyzing financial transactions and documents forensically. The course will also teach modern technical skills such as familiarizing with government financial systems and procurement regulations, detecting fraud and illicit profit-making issues, conducting interviews and taking statements, as well as collecting and analyzing intelligence information. While the ACC has highlighted the issue of the lack of investigators in the Maldives to investigate corruption, there have always been complaints about cases submitted to the commission being delayed without being examined.