Police probe allegation ‘Binveriya’ plots given to non-recipients, including Fazul’s brother

The police launched a criminal investigation on Wednesday after the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has been accused of giving land plots under the ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme – launched by the previous administration - to people who were not on the final list of recipients.

Documents received by Sun show that the people given land include Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed, the deputy managing director of Male’ Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC), and the elder brother of Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed – the managing director of HDC.

In a letter sent to the Housing Ministry dated July 24, a deputy director at HDC, asked to confirm the owner of Hulhumale’ lot number 20768. He wrote that the HDC had received applications from two different individuals – one of them Fazeel - who claim to have received the plot under the ‘Binveriya’ scheme and are seeking to permission to build boundary walls on the property.

In response to the letter as well as other similar inquiries, the Housing Ministry wrote back on August 15 that the ‘Binveriya’ database does not show the individuals mentioned in HDC’s letters to have submitted applications under the scheme.

The Housing Ministry also said that Hulhumale’ lot number 20768 as well as another lot – 20821 – had not been awarded by the ministry to anyone.

The final list of recipients of the ‘Binveriya’ scheme publicized by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration in August 2023 lists Fazeel as an applicant, but also shows he was deemed ineligible as he had already been awarded housing under a different social housing scheme.

However, documents leaked on social media show Fazeel has a land registry for the plot, signed by Housing Ministry’s director general Ahmed Vishan Naseem and dated September 11, 2023.

A police spokesperson confirmed the police have launched a criminal investigation in response to the allegations.

“The police are conducting a criminal investigation following the surfacing of allegations the HDC gave plots of individuals who were not among recipients under the ‘Binveriya’ scheme,” said the spokesperson.

Fazul has not been responsive to repeated attempts to seek a comment.

The allegations, which surfaced on social media on Wednesday, has sparked public uproar.

Those demanding an urgent investigation into the allegations include members of his own party, the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC). This includes Central Hithadhoo MP Ahmed Azan, who called it a serious allegation and urged relevant authorities to investigate the matter.

This is a serious allegation. Urge relevant authorities to investigate this matter. @PoliceMv @ACC_Maldives https://t.co/WJ4BfXr5uO

— Ahmed Azaan (@axanner) December 18, 2024

9,003 plots of land were awarded under phase one of the ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme, from land reclaimed or being reclaimed from Hulhumale’, Gulhifalhu and Giraavarufalhi.

In October, the Housing Ministry said it had finished the handover of plots to everyone who received land from Hulhumale’ Phase II.