Corruption within Fuel Supplies Maldives (FSM) is nothing new, says Managing Director Mohamed Gasam.
He said this on RaajjeTV’s Fala Surukhee programme on Saturday night, after Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) CEO Shahid Ali revealed that FSM employees were involved in the theft within the company during Covid-19 lockdown.
While MPL revealed the corruption in late November, Shahid along with other relevant officials were summoned to the parliament’s committee on state-owned enterprises for questioning.
Three MPL staff were suspended over the theft, and Shahid had told them that FSM officials have been informed of the suspected involvement of its employees in the theft, including their details, following the internal audit.
The audit is to have been conducted after the head officer at the company’s procurement department noticed irregularities back in September.
MD Gasam said that MPL had noticed the issue due to fuel overconsumption despite operations being halted during lockdown, adding that it might not have caught their attention had it not been for the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
He further said that the employee suspected to be involved in the theft was suspended immediately after MPL’s report, adding that five others suspected of unlawful practices have been suspended as well following FSM’s own internal audit and investigation.
Noting that their statements have been obtained for the investigation, Gasam said that they have yet to confess but that there is enough evidence against them.
He said that their findings will be shared with the police, adding that their aim is to complete all work related to its internal audit within the next 10 days.
Gasam further revealed that FSM and MPL have signed an agreement, to share the findings of the respective probes with each other. He added that the purpose of this is to ensure a thorough investigation.
While MPL’s CEO has confirmed that over MVR eight million was stolen from the company, its Chairman Mohamed Zaki resigned days after revealing the theft via Twitter.
