Committee flags irregularities in MVR 66 million police camera project

The Parliamentary Finance Committee has found that the project to procure body-worn cameras for police uniforms was awarded through single-source procurement after the initial bidding process was cancelled.

The matter was discussed at a sub-committee meeting on Tuesday as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption involving the police business company, POLCO. The investigation is based on information shared by whistleblowers.

Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim, who chairs the sub-committee, said the body-worn camera project had been awarded for MVR 66 million through a single-source arrangement. He noted that the tender process was first opened and later cancelled before the contract was awarded to the same party.

“The concern is that the bid was cancelled after opening and then the same bidder was selected under a single-source procurement,” Nazim said.

Nazim also stated that Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed retired after the financial transaction for the project was completed. Following his retirement, he joined the company that supplied the body-worn cameras.

“The report has identified the ethical issue of joining the company involved in the project after retirement,” Nazim said, referring to the findings of the sub-committee’s investigation.

The Finance Committee continues to review whistleblower submissions and related documents as part of its wider inquiry into procurement and financial practices within the police and its associated companies.