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| The day Ahmed Numan was appointed as the Commissioner General of Customs by President Solih. Photo by: President's Office |
By: Ahmed Numan
When matters of controversies arises, it is
not wise for us to make random opinions. When public tender is contested and
the winning party make an international procurement, that process is neither
part of customs’ scrutiny nor customs would not be furnished with that tender
information. All what customs know is the nature of consignment. Perhaps customs
would not be in the position to judge as to whether the nature of the
consignment comply with tender contract as that is a different process
altogether.
It is often a wide belief that corruption
within customs institution manifests itself through various forms, including
petty bribery, bureaucratic corruption, misappropriation, organized crime
related corruption and political corruption. However, the level which it could
take place is uncertain. Let’s take the MMPRC case as an example.
It’s s scandal which took place through the established frameworks of our
financial laws as per financial experts. But logically, how can a bank just
clear hefty amounts of Cheques for a business entity in an unquestionable
manner! Simply it does not make sense that the most inner circles within is not
aware about this.
In my opinion, the MMPRC embezzlement is a
classic example of an organized corruption that was carried out by deliberately
compromising all internal controls of multiple agencies. It occurred outside
the bounds of the system. MMPRC case proves that it was the state that was at
the brink of collapse.
Governments comes and goes but the state
institutions should be impartial and carry out their duties by all means
necessary. This is what we at customs consider as a state institution,
regardless of whichever government of the time. Yes, what I meant is that we
cannot compromise our statutory duties. I would rather not give a fact sheet of
Maldives customs service but I can make general opinions that as I understand
would apply under circumstances.
Disclaimer: Above is an exclusive
opinion written to Adamington Online on 16th February 2020 by Late Ahmed Numan who was the first
Commissioner General of Customs at President Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's
administration. Mr. Numan was the Chairman
of the Gender and Human Rights Committee of the Adhaalath Party, a member of
its Advisory Committee and a member of the Islamic party’s General
Discussions Committee. He was the first Chairman of utility company Fenaka
Corporation which was established by Former Re-instated President Dr
Mohamed Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik on 18th June 2012. He
also worked in the Housing Ministry, Maldives National University (MNU) and
the State Electric Company (STELCO) for a long duration. Mr. Ahmed Numan, who served as the
Commissioner General of Maldives Customs Service from 11th December
2018, passed away on 7th April 2020 at the intensive
care unit of a hospital in Bangalore, India while preparing for a kidney transplant
operation. Views expressed by writers in this section are their
own and do not reflect Adamington Online’s point-of-view.
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