ACC Engages Prosecutor General’s Office Over Gedhoruveriyaa Scheme Corruption Case

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated discussions with the Prosecutor General’s Office to determine whether charges will be filed against individuals accused of corruption related to the Gedhoruveriyaa housing scheme.  

In a press release issued yesterday, the ACC confirmed it had commenced a “duty prosecution” process with state prosecutors regarding the case. The commission underscored the public interest in the matter and assured that prosecution would proceed once this stage is completed.  

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The Gedhoruveriyaa housing scheme, introduced in 2022 during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, sought to provide flats to residents of Malé who had lived in the capital for over 15 years. The programme received 20,697 applications, and the initial list of beneficiaries was announced just two days before the former administration’s term ended.  

After the new administration assumed office, the ACC launched an investigation into the scheme, while the government simultaneously began a re-evaluation of the beneficiary list. Following a two-month inquiry, the ACC reported that over 60 per cent of those included in the permanent list failed to meet the eligibility criteria.  

The ACC’s statement on the Gedhoruveriyaa scheme comes amidst allegations of corruption in the Binveriyaa housing scheme, another government programme under scrutiny. Housing remains a contentious issue in the Maldives, as authorities grapple with addressing the capital’s chronic housing challenges and ensuring transparency in allocation processes.