Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) has not received over MVR 56 million as lease payments from duty-free shops at Velana International Airport, states the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

ACC stated that duty-free shops 06, 07, and 08 had ignored their lease agreements with MACL.

ACC stated that MACL had allowed leeway to the shops after the 2004 tsunami and the 2008 financial crisis, due to the impact on the Maldives tourism industry.

Despite this, shop 07 failed to pay its lease at a deferred schedule as allowed by MACL and so was ordered to close down on July 31, 2010 and to pay its remaining lease after the bank guarantee before a deadline.

Since the shops repeatedly failed to pay the lease after numerous deferments, numerous letters and emails were sent to the parent companies, and MACL also had held meetings with the company officials.

ACC stated that the documents show that the shops owe USD 429, 831 in lease payments and that in April this year, they are being fined USD 100 for each day the lease goes unpaid, according to their agreement, making the current total USD 3,666,931.