3 forged docs submitted for land; 6 questioned
The HDC has reportedly sent multiple requests to the Ministry of Housing to verify the authenticity of the documents submitted through its online portal.
Top Stories
Maldives Police Service revealed on Thursday that three plots of land were allegedly acquired through forged documents claiming allocation under the Binveriya scheme, a programme designed to provide land to eligible applicants.
During a press conference held Thursday evening, Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdullah Shareef detailed the ongoing investigation, which began after allegations surfaced that the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) attempted to allocate land to individuals not qualified under the scheme.
Shareef outlined the discoveries thus far:
-
Two plots of land were initially qualified under the Binveriya scheme but were acquired by others using invalid documentation.
-
One plot of land had not been allocated to anyone and was falsely claimed through forged documents.
-
Six individuals submitted questionable documents to claim the plots but were found ineligible under the scheme.
-
Some of the individuals involved had not even applied for the Binveriya scheme.
-
Others were already recipients of flats through the scheme, disqualifying them from further allocations.
The HDC has reportedly sent multiple requests to the Ministry of Housing to verify the authenticity of the documents submitted through its online portal. Shareef noted that some of the individuals questioned claimed the documents were issued during the previous government, allegedly with the involvement of former Housing Ministry officials.
"These claims were supported by statements that the officials had met and facilitated the issuance of these documents. The matter is under investigation, and we are working to trace the origins of these papers," Shareef stated.
The police have confiscated the forged documents and are in the process of obtaining digital records from the Housing Ministry for further analysis. The investigation aims to determine the full extent of the fraud and the parties involved.
The revelations have raised concerns over the integrity of the Binveriya Scheme and the potential misuse of government resources. Authorities have assured the public that all measures will be taken to ensure transparency and accountability in the land allocation process.
