The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has concluded their investigation into Villa Group’s contract with the government to extend its lease on the airport in Maamingili, and found no evidence of foul play.
The ACC has been investigating allegations that the Villa Group’s extension of its existing lease, to a total period of 99 years, was unlawful since December last year.
Villa Group developed the site into what the company later called, the Villa International Airport, having extended the lease during former President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik’s contentious tenure.
Villa’s airport was opened in November of 2011, as a domestic airport in Maamingili, the native island of the company’s founder Qasim Ibrahim.
The airport was licensed to fly internationally by the Waheed administration since its opening, but has now been reverted to domestic status.