The Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office has filed charges against two officers of the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) for clearing imported food shipments without the required health certificates.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the PG Office said the charges were brought against two MFDA field officers assigned to port clearance duties, accused of approving shipments brought in by sea and air in March without the necessary health documentation.

The officers charged are Ahmed Hashim, Dhaftharu No. 9244, and Ahmed Zahir, Arafat, Thinadhoo City. Both have been charged with three counts of misconduct in the performance of official duty.

If convicted, each offence carries a prison sentence of four months and 24 days, amounting to a total possible sentence of one year, two months and 12 days for each defendant.

The PG Office confirmed that the case has been submitted to the Criminal Court. It also said the suspects had requested a plea bargain, which was rejected in the public interest due to the seriousness of the offence and its direct impact on food safety and public health in the Maldives.

The case remains under judicial proceedings.