The Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) has confirmed it is investigating the Badminton Association of Maldives (BAM) for corruption. An ACC-led team is currently working at the BAM and will seeking documentation and information in connection with a number of corruption allegations against the association, the commission said in message sent to local media outlets.
While the ACC has not provided details of the allegations and the individuals involved, the commission entered the offices of the association as BAM was preparing to hold elections on 22 March. The candidates, in a further announcement, were asked to present themselves at the association at 2 p.m. on Tuesday for the assigning of candidate numbers.
The President of BAM, Moosa Nashid (Moosa), has been implicated in multiple allegations of corruption, including administrative malfeasance within the association.
While the Commissioner of Sports Mohamed Tholal has said that an election will not be held until all issues are resolved, BAM is continuing action towards holding an election.
An anonymous letter sent to the authorities details several instances of corruption at BAM, such as Moosa’s involvement with Askani Sports, from which the association made purchases worth MVR 300,000 last year alone, and renting apartments in which he also has interests. The letter additionally detailed that, while last year’s atoll league and office tournament were canceled citing improper bookkeeping/record keeping and lack of budget, the association later used the funds for various other purposes — BAM had, in a rush, tendered for procurement of 5,000 T-shirts and, against internal procedure, charged fees from participants enrolled in the association’s youth development program.
According to the letter, there was a malfunction of the association’s archive server, which holds records of membership fees and other financial records, since November of last year, and the server has not been accessible since. The current leadership of BAM is also accused of bringing in foreign officials on tourist visas and not maintaining inventory and stock properly.
The issue of a lack of transparency of funds received from sponsors, and in the spending of funds for scholarships for badminton players, has also been identified in the letter.