The passports of nine individuals who were banned from traveling and had their passports confiscated in connection with the case of fraudulently allocated land plots through the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) have been released.
The Maldives Police Service (MPS) revealed that the travel ban orders issued against nine individuals out of those previously prohibited from traveling abroad in relation to the ‘Binveriyaa’ scheme case have been revoked.
MPS also highlighted that this measure was taken after consulting with the Prosecutor General and based on the Prosecutor General's advice.
The police said that the former Managing Director of HDC, Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed, and the Deputy Managing Director of Malé Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC), Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed, are not among those whose travel ban orders have been revoked.
In connection with the land theft scandal in the land ownership scheme, the passports of 20 individuals were confiscated. Among those whose passports were confiscated, in addition to Fazul and Fazeel, were two employees who held political positions in the former housing ministry, two current employees of the housing ministry, HDC board members, and HDC employees. This also includes Ahmed Aiman, the Deputy Director who signed the letter sent by HDC to the housing ministry to clarify the ownership of the plot when permission was sought to build a boundary wall for the plot illegally allocated to Fazul's brother.
The case is under criminal investigation, with several allegations pinned against HDC's former MD Fazul. However, the police have clarified that so far, no formal charges have been filed against him.
The 20 individuals whose passports were confiscated include:
- Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed
- Ibrahim Yoosuf Fulhu, native to Velidhoo island of Noonu atoll
- Mohamed Visham
- Ulaa Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim
- Arif Abdul Samad
- Mohamed Naajil
- Mohamed Waheed, native to Filladhoo island of Haa Alif atoll
- Yoosuf Waheed, native to Vashafaru island of Haa Alif atoll
- Azhar Abdulla Saeed, native to Madaveli island of Gaaf Dhaal atoll
- Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed
- Abdul Majeed Mahir, native to Dhidhdhoo island of Haa Alif atoll
- Mariyam Saaee, native to Feydhoo district of Addu City
- Mariyam Niyaza
- Ahmed Vishan Naseem
- Abdulla Faaid
- Abdulla Shuhoodh
- Ahmed Aiman
- Ahmed Yameen, native to Maradhoo district of Addu City
- Sirugaam Waheed
- Mohamed Arif, native to Ihavandhoo island of Haa Alif atoll
As part of the police investigation into the land theft scandal, the phone of MWSC's Deputy Managing Director Fazeel has also been confiscated. His phone was seized on December 25.
In addition to this, the police searched M. Zeyvaru, the residence of former HDC MD Fazul, on the night of December 23. During the search of Fazul’s residence, some electronic items were reportedly taken into police custody.
15 HDC employees who were dismissed in connection with the case have since been reinstated to their positions.
With the exposure of the case of illegally allocating plots to ineligible individuals under the ‘Binveriyaa’ scheme in Hulhumalé, many instances of theft, embezzlement, and fraud occurring within HDC have been coming to light.
After it was confirmed that HDC had created fake government land registration documents in the name of the former Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure during the current administration, and with multiple corruption allegations against HDC, HDC's then-Managing Director Fazul resigned, and Mauroof Jameel was appointed as the new Managing Director.
