Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihsan, stated that the President’s proposed amendment to the Penal Code aims to tackle the long-standing issue of corruption within government institutions. His remarks followed the President’s announcement of a forthcoming legislative proposal aimed at removing legal barriers to addressing corruption in state agencies.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has revealed plans to amend the Maldives Penal Code to facilitate investigations into cases of disproportionate asset accumulation and to eliminate obstacles in prosecuting such cases. This proposed amendment, to be introduced in Parliament on behalf of the government next week, is intended to strengthen anti-corruption measures and enhance accountability.

Minister Ihsan highlighted the limitations of current anti-corruption clauses, explaining that existing provisions in the code of conduct are insufficiently rigorous to support effective prosecution.
“The way the current Penal Code is written, it effectively prevents any real accountability, even if there is a clear charge sheet,” Minister Ihsan noted, emphasising the importance of the President’s decision to remove these barriers.

As part of these reforms, the government intends to amend Section 515 of the Penal Code, which defines offences related to the accumulation of undue wealth. The amendment is expected to streamline the process for investigating and prosecuting cases of illicit enrichment, marking a step toward more robust anti-corruption efforts in the Maldives.