MP Ghafoor accuses HDC of graft over land deal
Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed refrained from providing detailed responses to Gafoor’s allegations.
The decision to allocate land in Hulhumale to SJ Construction has ignited controversy, with Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa accusing authorities of facilitating corruption.
The matter was brought to light during a heated Finance Committee meeting in parliament on Wednesday, where Housing Development Corporation (HDC) officials were summoned for questioning.
Ghafoor directly addressed HDC Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed, questioning the allocation of land adjacent to SJ Mall, a business linked to Ahmed Shamheedh’s family. He alleged that the land was given in violation of regulations and accused Shamheedh of leveraging his influence for personal benefit.
Ghafoor claimed that SJ Construction had already been granted over 30,000 acres of land and raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the decision-making process. According to sources present, Shamheedh reacted angrily to these accusations, leading to a heated exchange.
“Ghafoor says he will walk through corruption and shout it,” said a committee member who witnessed the arguments. The tension reportedly escalated into a broader dispute among committee members, highlighting differing views on the allocation process.
Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed refrained from providing detailed responses to Ghafoor’s allegations. He neither addressed the pricing of the land allocated to SJ Construction nor the process that determined the decision. Fazul only stated that the land was allocated based on SJ’s investment plans, leaving several key questions unanswered.
