Fayyaz Requests Formal Investigation into Corruption Allegations
Photo: MDP
Fayyaz Ismail, Chairperson of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), submitted letters yesterday to the Maldives Police Service and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), seeking investigations into allegations of corruption involving him and an Indian contractor in a government project to build police stations across the Maldives.
މިނިސްޓަރު އިހުސާން ވަނީ ‘ކުރީސަރުކާރުން’ ޕޮލިސް ޔުނިޓުތަކެއް އެޅުމާގުޅޭ ޕްރޮޖެކްޓަކާއި ގުޅިގެން އެކި ޕްލެޓްފޯމްތަކުގައި ދޮގު މައުލޫމާތު ދެއްވާފައި. އަޅުގަނޑުގެ ފަރާތުން މިކަމުގައި ދޭން ޖެހޭ ޖަވާބުތައް އެކި ޕްލެޓްފޯމްތަކުގައި ދެވިއްޖެ. ތަހުގީގީ އިދާރާތަކުގެ ބެލެނިވެރި ވަޒީރަކަށް… pic.twitter.com/J2GEMHIDQl
— Fayyaz Ismail (@faya_i) October 29, 2024advertisement
The project, announced in 2019 during the MDP administration, involved the construction of 61 police stations. A joint venture, ABL Indira Projects JV LLP, was formed by Indian contractors Ashoka Buildcon and Indira Projects and Development to undertake the project.
In 2021, a contract was signed between the Maldives Police Service and Indira Projects, stipulating that 85 percent of the funding would come from the Exim Bank of India, with the remaining 15 percent funded by the Maldivian government. Indira Projects received an advance payment of USD 3.6 million, but no physical construction work has since commenced.
Fayyaz, who was Economic Minister when the contract was awarded, has faced repeated accusations of corruption linked to the project, most recently from senior government officials. Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihusaan addressed the Parliament, yesterday, stating that Indira Projects had yet to begin work on the police station initiative. He alleged that the company’s sole activity in the Maldives has been the renovation of Moonimaage, a residence in Malé, which the company acquired in part through shares from Business Image Group (BIG), a firm associated with Fayyaz’s family.
In a response on X, formerly Twitter, Fayyaz rejected the allegations, claiming that Ihusan has consistently provided misleading information about the project. He posted images of letters sent to both the police and the ACC, urging an official investigation into the matter. Fayyaz argued that despite Ihusan’s leadership of investigative bodies for almost a year, no formal steps had been taken to pursue an investigation or prosecution, which he called “irresponsible.”
In his letter, Fayyaz highlighted that, despite the seriousness of the allegations and the involvement of public funds, he has not been formally questioned, nor has the case been subject to any official inquiry. He contended that the accusations are politically motivated and designed to hinder his ability to provide a comprehensive response.
The company BIG, which partly owns Moonimaage, is co-owned by Fayyaz’s brother, Hassan Ismail, and Mohamed Munshid, a former Presidential Office photographer. Both Fayyaz and his brother have consistently denied the corruption allegations against them.
