"Fushidhigga" seized by police

Maldives Police Service (MPS) has seized Adh. Fushidhigga, an island leased to three different individuals under former president Abdulla Yameen’s presidency.

While speaking at a press conference held at the Ministry of Tourism, the Minister of Tourism, Ali Waheed, disclosed that a team from the ministry, as well as MPS, had visited the island on Saturday for investigation after receiving a tip on "possible unlawful businesses" being carried out on the island.

The team decided to temporarily close off the island after finding evidence of illicit tourist lodging and records of services.

According to Waheed, the ministry has not received any information about tourists currently residing at the island. However, two undocumented migrant workers were taken into custody from the island by the MPS.

The island was initially allocated for tourism development by the former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration and then sold to an Ahmed Khaleel of M. Hasthee during his predecessor's government, even though no formal contract was signed.

The island was renamed “Rahdhigga” and sold for three million dollars to HMH while Ahmed Adheeb was the tourism minister during Yaameen’s presidency. Later, the previous government resold the island for six million dollars after re-naming it "Fushidhigga" again, to Maldiviana Pvt Ltd.

The current administration decided not to use the island for any purposes until the issue of ownership is resolved.