Judge questions failure to charge ex-Fenaka head Shareef over PR deal

Criminal Court Chief Judge Adam Mohamed on Sunday criticised the decision not to charge former Fenaka Managing Director Ahmed Shareef in connection with a public relations agreement signed with Blazon Inc.

Shareef served as Fenaka’s Managing Director during former President Abdulla Yameen’s administration. Following the 2018 presidential election, he joined the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and was later appointed Managing Director of STELCO under the previous government.

The comments came as Judge Adam Mohamed sentenced former Fenaka Managing Director Ahmed Saeed to four years in prison for authorising payments to Blazon without ensuring that the agreed work had been completed.

In his verdict, the judge said there was reason to question the role of Shareef in the Blazon agreement. He noted that Fenaka’s media department, which had eight employees at the time, had repeatedly raised concerns about the cost of the contract, estimated at MVR 1.3 million, which they believed was driven by Shareef.

“In connection with this incident, Ahmed Shareef has not been charged by the Anti-Corruption Commission or the Prosecutor General’s Office,” Judge Adam Mohamed stated, adding that both agencies had the opportunity to pursue the matter more thoroughly.

The judge further observed that marketing and public relations were unnecessary for state-owned utility companies. Fenaka, which is fully government-owned, was established to provide essential services, not to compete in a commercial marketplace.

“Utility companies funded by the people and the government must improve their reputation by delivering affordable services, rather than spending on public relations,” Judge Adam Mohamed said, adding that the money allocated for PR could have been used to strengthen services for the public.