The Maldives Parliament yesterday voted to dismiss the Auditor General over alleged misappropriation of state funds.
The controversial vote saw 43 in favour and 28 against.
The Anti-Corruption Commission accused the Auditor General of using missing the state funds. Allegations said he used his corporate credit card to buy a tie and visit Thulhaidhu island in Baa Atoll.
Subsequently, a parliamentary sub-committee led by Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim put forward the motion of no-confidence against the Auditor General.
However Auditor General Ibrahim Naeem has denied charges, calling it an “attempt to discredit his office,” minivan news reported.
Parliamentary sessions leading up yesterday’s vote saw members in physical blows, verbal clashes, abrupt ending of parliament, opposition street protest followed by the arrest of parliamentarians.
The motion also saw allegations being hurled by the ruling MDP and the opposition DRP, at each other.
The MDP said the DRP wanted to oust Naeem because he published reports implicating opposition members including the former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
But a DRP MP Ahmed Ilham said yesterday’s vote made it “very clear” that the Auditor General was corrupt.
“Independent MPs who always vote on MDP side voted on DRP side today,” Ilham was quoted as saying in Minivan news, after yesterday’s vote.
The government was trying to defend Naeem in many ways, “which proves that the government is promoting corruption in the country in the name of erasing it,” Ilham has added.
Source: http://www.asiantribune.com
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