16 individuals lodge info to Binveriya Scheme complaints portal

The Maldives Police Service on Sunday said that it has received information related to the Binveriya social housing scheme from a total of 16 different individuals to the designated portal set up by the authority to collect evidence and information to assist its ongoing investigation into corruption allegations.

Following allegations of corruption was made on the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and its former Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed, of issuing lands to people not included in the original recipients list, police set up a portal for the public to submit any evidence or information that would help the authority with the investigation. The portal was established on December 21^st.

With 16 individuals sharing information regarding the scheme, four out of these have shared documents directly linked to the allegations, police said.

Police added that information and evidence sharing via the portal is still open for other willing members of the public. The authority further clarified that information providers can do so either anonymously or provide contact details if they are willing to be contacted by the authorities to assist in the investigation.

The unlisted individuals who apparently were granted lands under the scheme had included Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed, the deputy managing director of Male’ Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC), who is also Fazul’s elder brother.

Credible information received to ‘Sun’ Online confirms that boundary walls of the property extended to Fazeel were already constructed.

Besides police, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is also looking into the corruption allegations as well.

Fazul tendered his resignation hot in the heels of police and ACC launching their investigation into the case, and cited his decision was motivated to cooperate with the authorities.