Managing Director at Maldive Gas, Shazail Shiyam has been suspended following drawn-out corruption allegations.

Shiyam’s suspension comes following complaints to the “Zero Tolerance to Corruption” Portal established by the President’s Office.

He is accused of abusing his position at the company for his own benefit, among several others.

Shiyam has been suspended until investigations into the allegations against him, conclude.

Spokesperson at the President’s Office, Ibrahim Hoodh revealed that the allegations against him are deemed accurate.

Parliament’s Committee on State Owned Enterprises (SOE) passed to set Maldive Gas’s procurement procedure under “direct purchase”, after the company came under fire for violating procedure when purchasing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), in early October.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) also launched investigations into the company for violating its procurement procedure in August, after receiving a case of Maldive Gas buying products abroad, with inflated prices.

However, Shiyam had denied violating procedure and assured that since its inception, the company has followed the procurement policy to seek suppliers and that it has not violated the code of practice within the past eight months.

Shiyam was appointed as MD of Maldive Gas through a Maldives Reform Movement (MRM) slot in January and previously served as a Deputy Fisheries Minister and Deputy Tourism Minister during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen.

Maldive Gas came under fire after receipts of its purchases were shared on social media platforms which shows that it had purchased 3,000 gas cylinders from 3DH International at different prices.

During the management of Abdulla Maumoon, Maldive Gas finances had been used to build a mosque near Rehendhi School during the previous administration of Abdulla Yameen. MVR 2.5 million was used to build the mosque as a memorial for then-First Lady Fathmath Ibrahim’s parents.