A motion of no-confidence against Health Minister Abdulla Ameen has been submitted to the Parliament.

The motion was submitted to the Parliament with the sign of 24 MDP parliamentarians, in which Speaker Mohamed Nasheed did not sign.

The motion brought against him states that inquiries by both the Office of the Auditor General and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) have exposed corruption by the Ministry of Health in the award of a contract for the procurement of overseas ventilators. It notes that Ameen should be kept accountable and that the allegations resulted in a lack of confidence in him.

Parliamentarians who signed the motion:

1. North Galolhu MP Eva Abdulla

2. Biledhdhoo MP Ahmed Haleem

3. West Henveiru MP Hassan Latheef

4. North Maafannu MP Imthiyaz Fahmy

5. Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb

6. Thullhaadhoo MP Hisaan Hussain

7. Vilufushi MP Hassan Afeef

8. Madaveli MP Hussain Firushan

9. Gadhdhoo MP Ibrahim Zahir

10. Central Maafannu MP Ibrahim Rasheed (Bonde)

11. South Hithadhoo MP Ibrahim Nazil

12. Ungoofaaru MP Mohamed Waheed (Wadde)

13. North Machangolhi MP Mohamed Rasheed (Boadhigu)

14. Fonadhoo MP Moosa Siraj

15. South Galolhu MP Mickail Ahmed Naseem

16. North Fuvahmulah MP Mohamed Rasheed

17. Central Fuvahmulah MP Hussain Mohamed Latheef

18. Central Henveiru MP Ali Azim

19. Makunudhoo MP Mohamed Raai

20. Inguraidhoo MP Hassan Ahmed (Hassantey)

21. Mathiveri MP Hassan Zareer

22. Thoddoo MP Hassan Shiyan

23. Dhidhdhoo MP Abdulla Waheed

24. Central Hithadhoo MP Ahmed Rasheed (Checkmark)

The no-confidence motion has been submitted after the MDP Parliamentary Group met today and passed a vote of confidence on the Minister.

The Prosecutor General's Office had decided not to pursue charges against Minister Ameen and 11 other senior officials of the Health Ministry today after the ACC submitted their report on the findings of corruption regarding the ventilators case.

PG Hussain Shameem said that even though administrative issues were found in the case submitted by the ACC, there is no evidence that proves corruption was involved during the transactions to procure the ventilators.

Shameem added that after analyzing the report, enough evidence was not there to press a criminal charge against anyone. He added that even though the ACC had discussed the investigation during the initial stages, no discussions were held before submitting the case for prosecution.

The allegations against Ameen stem from discrepancies highlighted in the Health Ministry's compliance audit on COVID-19 related spending, mainly an MVR 34.50 million contract with Dubai-based Executors General Trading to procure 75 ventilators, published in August by the Auditor General's Office.

The audit report reveals that the Ministry of Health paid MVR 30.91 million, which accounted for 90% of the overall payment, to Executors General Trading as an advance, without receiving an advance guarantee or a performance guarantee.

The company has yet to deliver the 75 ventilators.