Alleged corruption in Hajj pilgrimage arrangements referred to ACC

A case alleging corruption by Hajj Corporation's Managing Director Mohamed Shakeel and senior officials in this year's Hajj pilgrimage arrangements has been submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for review.

The case was submitted to ACC on Thursday by Ahmed Saleem, a member of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s National Congress.

The case stated that while a sibling of Hajj Corporation's MD Shakeel went on Hajj as an assistant this time, Shakeel's mother and father also went to perform this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

In addition to this, allegations have surfaced that several senior officials and board members of the Hajj Corporation performed the pilgrimage without joining the standard queue and at the government’s expense. RaajjeMV has also learned that the parents of Managing Director Shakeel reportedly traveled in business class for their Hajj journey.

Further, the case submitted by Saleem claimed that a private room costing MVR 26,000 was arranged at a hotel in Mecca for Shakeel's parents.

The case also states that for upcoming Umrah trips, visas for all pilgrims going through Maldives Hajj Corporation are being processed by "ELKASAS", a private company owned by the corporation's Deputy Managing Director Sheikh Ali Shareef.

It is also mentioned that Maldives Hajj Corporation is paying USD 350 as visa fee to Sheikh Ali Shareef's company, while the actual visa fee payable to Saudi Arabia is USD 150, according to information revealed in the media.

In the letter addressed to ACC President Adam Shamil, Saleem has requested to investigate whether Shakeel's parents went for Hajj according to the order of payment, how their business class travel was arranged, and whether Shakeel's sibling was able to go as an assistant due to Shakeel's influence.

Saleem also sought to verify if Umrah visa arrangements are indeed being handled by the Deputy MD's private company, how much the Hajj Corporation is paying for visa fees, and what the actual visa fee payable to Saudi Arabia is.

In addition to this, Saleem requested the anti-corruption watchdog to investigate the matter as an urgent case.

Speaking to RaajjeMV after submitting the case to ACC, Saleem said that every time a corruption case related to the government is submitted to ACC, the commission's resolve weakens. However, he expressed hope that the corruption case involving Hajj Corporation's senior officials would be investigated without hesitation.

Saleem further stated that ACC should immediately start the investigation and enter Hajj Corporation premises. He warned that if the investigation is delayed by four or five days, there's a risk of evidence being destroyed once the submission of the case becomes known.

While Saleem has submitted this corruption case related to Hajj Corporation's senior officials to ACC, he had previously also submitted a case involving Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan, to the commission.