Passports of all involved in land theft scandal released

The passports of all individuals who were banned from traveling and had their passports confiscated in connection with the case of fraudulently allocated land plots through the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) have been released.

The passports of 20 individuals were seized and travel ban orders were issued under a court order in connection with the land theft case that surfaced in 2024. Among those whose passports were detained included Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed, the then Managing Director of HDC, and his elder brother Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed, the Deputy Managing Director of Malé Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC).

The Maldives Police Service (MPS) revealed that the passports of all individuals detained in connection with the case have been released. However, the police institution asserted that the investigation into the case is still ongoing.

The police institution has not disclosed any further details regarding the progress of the investigation. The case is under criminal investigation, with several allegations pinned against HDC's former MD Fazul. However, the police have clarified that so far, no formal charges have been filed against him.

The 20 individuals whose passports were confiscated include Fazul, Fazeel, Ibrahim Yoosuf Fulhu, native to Velidhoo island of Noonu atoll, Mohamed Visham, Ulaa Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim, Arif Abdul Samad, Mohamed Naajil, Mohamed Waheed, native to Filladhoo island of Haa Alif atoll, Yoosuf Waheed, native to Vashafaru island of Haa Alif atoll, Azhar Abdulla Saeed, native to Madaveli island of Gaaf Dhaal atoll, Abdul Majeed Mahir, native to Dhidhdhoo island of Haa Alif atoll, Mariyam Saaee, native to Feydhoo district of Addu City, Mariyam Niyaza, Ahmed Vishan Naseem, Abdulla Faaid, Abdulla Shuhoodh, Ahmed Aiman, Ahmed Yameen, native to Maradhoo district of Addu City, Sirugaam Waheed and Mohamed Arif, native to Ihavandhoo island of Haa Alif atoll.

As part of the police investigation into the land theft scandal, the phone of MWSC's Deputy Managing Director Fazeel was also confiscated on 25 December 2024.

In addition to this, the police searched M. Zeyvaru, the residence of former HDC MD Fazul, on the night of December 23. During the search of Fazul’s residence, some electronic items were reportedly taken into police custody.

Further, 15 HDC employees who were dismissed in connection with the case have since been reinstated to their positions.

The land theft scandal surfaced on 18 December 2024.

With the exposure of the case of illegally allocating plots to ineligible individuals under the ‘Binveriyaa’ scheme in Hulhumalé, many instances of theft, embezzlement, and fraud occurring within HDC had come to light.

After it was confirmed that HDC had created fake government land registration documents in the name of the former Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure during the current administration, and with multiple corruption allegations against HDC, HDC's then-Managing Director Fazul resigned on 21 December 2024, and Mauroof Jameel was appointed as the new Managing Director.

In response to intense public criticism, Fazul, who was the Managing Director of HDC at the time, held a press conference. During the presser, it became clear that Fazul was not being truthful, as he struggled to answer questions from journalists. He failed to provide a clear explanation for how two individuals received the same plot of land, claiming that his elder brother had acquired the land illegally by coincidence. Despite Fazul's statement that a boundary wall would not be constructed around the plot, the wall had already been built.