PG orders criminal inquiry into land, flat scheme irregularities
Board members of HDC, including Managing Director Fazul, have been suspended by the Privatisation and Corporatisation Board (PCB).
Prosecutor General Abbas Shareef on Thursday directed the police and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to conduct a criminal investigation into alleged irregularities in the Binveriya scheme for land allocation and the Gedhoruveriya scheme for flat allotment in the Male region.
The directive was issued under the constitutional powers of the Prosecutor General. Abbas has instructed authorities to:
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Investigate the process of form acceptance, recipient determination, and land and flat allocation.
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Identify individuals involved in any criminal acts and forward charges to the Prosecutor's Office.
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Provide weekly updates on the investigation's progress and expedite the process.
The inquiry follows revelations that MWSC Deputy Managing Director Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed, previously declared ineligible for land under the Binveriya scheme, was allocated land. Fazeel is the brother of Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed.
The issue surfaced after documents were leaked on social media by an account operated under the name Hassan Kurusee. The documents indicated that two individuals were allocated the same plot of land in the second phase of Hulhumale.
According to the leaked correspondence:
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Two individuals claiming ownership of the same plot applied for permission to construct a boundary wall.
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HDC Deputy Director Ahmed Aiman signed a letter to the Housing Ministry in July, seeking clarification on the rightful owner.
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The housing ministry's database reportedly did not list either individual as a land beneficiary.
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Fazeel allegedly obtained land through a forged agreement.
Amid these allegations, the police conducted operations at the HDC headquarters Wednesday evening.
Board members of HDC, including Managing Director Fazul, have been suspended by the Privatisation and Corporatisation Board (PCB). Additionally, Fazeel has been suspended from his position at MWSC.
Social media discussions have raised accusations of corruption involving Fazul.
