Thilafushi land was not sold even if bribe accepted: HDC
"The employee was not allowed to sell the land as per the norms of the corporation," it said.
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By
Ahmed Mizyal
Housing Development Corporation (HDC) said on Thursday that although one of their employees had accepted a bribe related to the selling of a plot of land from K. Thilafushi to a private company in violation of regulations, the land had not actually been sold.
After an employee of HDC was busted for accepting a bribe of MVR 1 million and sold a stolen land from K. Thilafushi to a private company, the company initiated an inquiry and suspended the employee.
The HDC has confirmed that this had happened. The company's public relations manager, Ahmed Mimrah, told Atoll Times on Wednesday that after the matter came to light, an internal audit of the company was launched and a serious complaint was also lodged with the police.
In a statement, HDC said that the media reports saying that land worth MVR 1 million had been sold were not correct.
"The employee was not allowed to sell the land as per the norms of the corporation," it said.
"The rules and norms for sale of land of the corporation are strict, transparent and uniform. In view of this, it is pertinent to mention at this juncture that no land shall be sold to anyone who is not registered with the HDC bid portal without making an open notification in the gazette and will not be open for sale otherwise."
HDC in its investigation in the case:
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Employee who tried to take advantage of fraudulent allotment of land to a private party has been suspended
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It was found that fraudulent cash transactions were made and money was deposited in the employee's personal bank account
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HDC will not make any transaction through an employee's personal bank account
Urging people to be cautious about transactions that take place without making public announcements and using their personal accounts, the HDC said that they have requested the public to inform the corporation if any such act is known.
Strongly condemning the act of the employee taking bribe to sell a piece of land in Thilafushi, HDC said that "strict action" will be taken immediately against the employees indulging in such acts.
Ever since the incident came to light, the HDC employee who was involved in the incident has been suspended from service.
In addition, while this land deal problem had surfaced, another employee of the corporation is also being investigated for stealing over MVR 200,000 from the company's safe.
While the employee who allegedly took MVR 1 million as bribe to sell the land was suspended, the employee who stole more than MVR 200,000 from the safe was sacked.
