Demolition of fire-damaged building began before experts arrived to investigate!
The police had provided assistance to MNDF to control the blaze
The building housing the Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development was completely destroyed
Maldives Police Service (MPS) on Friday revealed that a team of experienced experts from India is assisting in the investigation of the fire incident that affected parts of three ministries and the Malé City Council office. In a message sent to the media, Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau said that a special team of experts from India is currently working alongside the police institution in the ongoing investigation into the fire incident that occurred at M. Green Building on December 12.
Earlier, at a press conference held at Dharubaaruge, the CP stated that the police had provided assistance to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) in dousing the fire and that all resources had been utilized.
In addition to this, the CP assured the public that the police would thoroughly conduct the investigation of such a major incident. The CP further stated that the investigation would proceed with the assistance of a foreign team. It is believed that the purpose of investigating with the assistance of a foreign team is to maintain trust. The CP has noted that complete information regarding the matter will be shared with the public.
About a week ago, the area where the fire incident occurred was handed over to the police. Along with this, he mentioned in his statement that police forensic teams are working in the area and that the process of reviewing CCTV footage is also underway.
The fire that originated in the building where the Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development was operating spread uncontrollably, rendering the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure, Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Vital Island Section of the Malé City Council in that block unusable due to extensive damage.
The investigation of the incident is ongoing and the work of demolishing and cleaning the building that caught fire had begun long before bringing in an external investigation team to investigate the incident. Several questions have arisen regarding the fire incident with some people alleging that this might have been done intentionally. However, due to the lack of clear information publicized regarding the matter so far, such perspectives are given more opportunities.
There doesn’t seem to be a reason why it shouldn't be that way. Not long after the fire at the housing ministry, major corruption cases related to land allocation are now being exposed by the Maldives Police Service (MPS). There are many situations that raise questions about the housing ministry's role in this. Therefore, the public continues to question the quick demolition and cleaning of the fire-affected area. Especially if it's being done due to a risk, shouldn't that be disclosed as well?
The biggest issue that arises when investigators from abroad arrive is the scene’s alteration before they can examine it, often due to it not being preserved in its original state. The team arriving from abroad will conduct their investigation based on the thorough excavations and findings from previous investigations. However, Maldivians are hopeful that this time will be different, as housing issues are deeply tied to the emotions of the people.
