Member of Parliament for Inguraidhoo constituency, Ibrahim Falah, has called for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate alleged corruption cases from the previous government, citing concerns over national independence being "mortgaged."

These remarks came during a parliamentary debate on a committee report regarding the appointment of an ACC deputy chairman.

While the Majority Leader began by thanking committee members and characterising the ACC as one of the most important institutions tasked with investigating "wrongdoings" in the nation, his speech was interrupted by an opposition MDP member on a point of order.

Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudoo), MDP Member for Galolhu North constituency, expressed his view that the ACC was not functioning effectively, regardless of how the matter was presented.

In response, MP Falah highlighted several corruption cases that emerged during the previous MDP government, noting that the ACC had failed to investigate them at the time.

He specifically referenced financial misconduct allegations during the pandemic, pointing to a MVR 33 million transaction with what he described as a non-existent Dubai company for ventilator procurement. This figure was confirmed by Hussain Ziyad (Fittey), MDP Member for Vaikaradhoo constituency.

The case in question involves an agreement between the Maldivian government and Dubai's Executors General Trading during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 for ventilator procurement, which subsequently breached the contract. Following investigations into alleged fraud, the ACC forwarded the case for prosecution multiple times.

The Commission's initial prosecution request targeted former Health Minister Abdulla Ameen and 11 ministry employees. After revision, a modified list was resubmitted for prosecution; however, the case has shown no significant progress.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's government has now decided to reinvestigate the case.

Alongside the "ventilator scandal," MP Falah raised concerns about the previous government's mortgaging of state schools – he maintained that the previous administration had concluded their term after "mortgaging the nation's independence," while noting that the current Government has saved and protected national independence.

The school mortgaging reference pertains to the 2021 case where numerous schools were transferred to the Finance Ministry's registry to secure loans. Media reports at the time indicated that the Dharumavantha Hospital building was similarly mortgaged to secure a large loan, alongside these schools.