A senior official of Villa Group has accused the government of holding their foreign workers hostage.

Noting that the visas of most of the workers have expired, the official noted that the issue arose after its accounts were frozen last March, and the Maldives Immigration halted services to the company.

“Now the foreign workers are unable to leave the country. Their visas have expired. The government refused to provide a solution [on the matter]. This really is hijacking. It is inhumane,” said the official.

Furthermore, the official said that this is against all international treaties and laws, and that they have begun work to inform their respective nations so as to ensure the workers’ rights.

According to the official, the point of harassing Villa “is to halt [our] businesses”.

Customs and Police officers first raided Villa Group’s five resorts on January 19, claiming that liquor licensed to one of its resorts, from the Customs Bonded Warehouse was being distributed to other resorts associated with it, unlawfully. The five resorts raided were; Sun Island Resort, Paradise Island Resort, Holiday Island Resort, Royal Island Resort and Fun Island Resort. Villa Group denies any wrongdoings, saying that they did everything as per law.

They have since publicized the names of the customs and police officers that were active in the raid, and the police has launched a probe into the matter.