Seaplane deal with TMA carried out under instruction of former MD Adil: Fazeel

The seaplane terminal deal with Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) was carried out under the instruction of former MD Adil Moosa, says General Manager Commercial of MACL’s non-aero commercial department Hussein Fazeel.

The parliament's public accounts committee summoned Fazeel to a meeting on Wednesday to question him in regard to allegations of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) planning to lease the new seaplane terminal to TMA at an unfair rate to benefit a certain party.

Highlighting that he oversees the non-aero commercial department- a section responsible for all non-aviation related business at the airport - Fazeel admitted he was in charge of the lease agreement of the new seaplane terminal.

However, the discussions and agreements with TMA were carried out under the recommendation of the airports' company's senior management, specifically former Managing Director Adil Moosa, said Fazeel. Moreover, Fazeel stated that - although no documented proposal for the agreement exists- he does not believe that MACL's board of directors were oblivious of the deal as both the company's MD and secretary were fully aware of the negotiations.

Elaborating further, Fazeel claimed that the discussions with TMA were carried out under the recommendation and instruction of the company's former MD, adding that the last meeting with TMA took place during the first week of November last year where the former MD not only signed an agreement but also urged for negotiations to be concluded as soon as possible.

Fazeel further disclosed that MACL's board was given a presentation of the proposal which featured five scenarios for rental rates.

While Fazeel admitted that the lease contract with TMA was not the most profitable agreement for MACL, he stated that it would not cause any loss for the company either. As such, he claimed to have signed the agreement based on discussions with the company's senior management.

The members of the public accounts committee went onto note that MACL's senior management denied any knowledge or any involvement in the seaplane deal when summoned to the committee for questioning.

Nevertheless, Fazeel reiterated that MACL's former MD was responsible for the negotiation and that the company's secretary had full knowledge of the deal.