Falah admits MD stole USD paid in advance for gas procurement
During a parliamentary sitting Falah addressed allegations regarding missing advance payments from state-owned Maldive Gas for an LPG shipment that never arrived. He deflected attention to alleged Covid-19 ventilator procurement embezzlement under the previous MDP administration. ACC is investigating the case, but MD Abdulla Mohamed remains in his position.
Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falah (R) and Maldive Gas MD Abdulla Mohamed (L) | Raajje MV
As authorities continue to investigate the disappearance of advance payments made by the state-owned Maldive Gas for a gas shipment, MP for Inguraidhoo constituency and leader of the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC)’s Parliamentary Group Ibrahim Falah has suggested that the company’s Managing Director stole the funds.
Speaking at an extraordinary sitting of the People’s Majlis on Monday, Falah emphasized that any action affecting the national treasury is of significant concern. He further implied that if funds were stolen, it would be considered “fine,” accusing the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) of viewing anti-corruption reforms negatively whenever they close potential loopholes for corruption.
Falah also referenced a comment by MDP Chairperson Abdul Ghafoor Moosa about major thieves walking free on the streets, noting that a specific gas company had been mentioned in this context.
Falah pointed out that while the focus has been on the USD 260,000 allegedly taken from the gas company, the Covid-19 pandemic was the most significant global crisis in recent history. He alleged that, while the theft of USD 200,000 from the gas company is under scrutiny, USD two million was embezzled under the guise of procuring ventilators during the MDP administration’s Covid-19 response.
Speaking regarding the missing funds earlier, Falah had stated that a wrongful act remains wrong, regardless of who commits it. He emphasized that the disappearance of money meant for gas procurement is a very serious issue.
The missing advance payment from Maldive Gas was first revealed by Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Dhiggaru constituency Ahmed Nazim, during a Public Accounts Committee meeting.
The payment, made in October 2024, was intended for a shipment of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). Despite the payment being made, the gas shipment never arrived in the Maldives, and efforts to recover the funds have so far been unsuccessful.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is currently investigating the case.
To date, the government has taken no action against Abdulla Mohamed, the Managing Director of Maldive Gas, who remains in his position despite the ongoing investigation.
