MIRA seeks charges against doctors over PCR testing tax fraud
MIRA said charges have been sought against two companies — Pioneer Maldives and Island Health Solutions — and two of their directors for tax fraud.
The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has requested the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) to file charges against two medical doctors in connection with alleged tax fraud linked to PCR testing services provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, MIRA said charges have been sought against two companies — Pioneer Maldives and Island Health Solutions — and two of their directors for tax fraud.
The directors named are:
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Dr Ali Abdulla Latheef, Director of Island Health Solutions
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Dr Ikleel Shareef, Director of Pioneer Maldives
MIRA said Dr Ali Latheef, who headed the Technical Advisory Group for COVID-19 control, has also been referred for prosecution in a separate case related to testing services.
According to MIRA, Dr Latheef is accused of providing reagents and chemicals used in the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital laboratory to a private company.
MIRA said the two companies were among the main providers of PCR testing services during the pandemic. However, their income tax returns did not include a portion of taxable income.
According to the authority:
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Island Health Solutions did not declare taxable income amounting to MVR 31.9 million
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Pioneer Maldives did not declare taxable income amounting to MVR 102.7 million
MIRA said Pioneer Maldives was among the first companies to provide PCR testing services to the public and tourist facilities, but the income from these services was not included in the financial statements and tax returns submitted to the authority.
As a result, MIRA has ordered Island Health Solutions to pay MVR 4.3 million in additional taxes and Pioneer Maldives to pay MVR 23.7 million.
MIRA has also requested charges against Ali Fayaz, who prepared the financial statements and tax returns for both companies. He is accused of knowingly preparing documents that contained incorrect information.
