ACC welcomes bill aimed at strengthening recovery of criminal assets

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has welcomed the government’s submission of legislation aimed at strengthening the legal mechanisms for recovering assets obtained through criminal activity, calling it a significant development in the fight against corruption.

The “Bill on Assets Recovered from Criminal Activity” was formally submitted to the People’s Majlis, with the ACC saying the proposed law could help address existing gaps in the country’s asset recovery system.

According to the Commission, the legislation would create a stronger legal basis for identifying, forfeiting and recovering assets linked to serious criminal offences. It said the framework would also help prevent individuals involved in major crimes from retaining financial benefits gained through illegal activities.

The ACC noted that the proposed legislation would be particularly important in cases involving state assets that have been unlawfully acquired or misappropriated.

The Commission described the initiative as a step towards strengthening coordination between state institutions and protecting public resources from being lost to corruption and other serious offences.

The ACC said it is prepared to cooperate with relevant government authorities and international partners to support the effective implementation of the asset recovery framework once the legislation is enacted.

It also called for the bill to be considered and passed by the People’s Majlis without unnecessary delay, while stressing the importance of ensuring that the final legislation is technically comprehensive and capable of being effectively implemented.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu previously announced that the government had submitted the bill to Parliament, explaining that the legislation seeks to establish a comprehensive system for forfeiting assets acquired through major criminal activities.

The President said the proposed law is intended to prevent perpetrators from continuing to benefit financially from illicitly obtained wealth while addressing legal difficulties in recovering state assets lost through serious crimes.

The government’s move comes as Maldivian authorities seek to strengthen measures for recovering public funds and other assets linked to corruption and major criminal offences.