Maldive Gas under police probe for money laundering

The police have opened an investigation against state-run Maldive Gas for possible money laundering.

The confirmation of a police investigation into Maldive Gas comes a day after the public became aware that the company “lost” money it paid to a foreign company in October last year as an advance to import a shipment of liquified petroleum gas (LPG).

The case was mentioned by Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim during a meeting of the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday.

However, he did not specify the amount paid as an advance, nor did he name the foreign company in question.

Nazim said the Maldive Gas never received the shipment nor was it able to recover the advance payment.

A credible source told Sun on Thursday morning that the police had already been investigating the case before news of the incident hit mainstream media the previous day.

However, the source did not specify exactly when the police launched its investigation.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has confirmed that the case is also under investigation by the commission. However, the corruption watchdog did not specify when they opened the investigation.

Maldive Gas has not been available for comment despite repeated queries.

Maldive Gas is a subsidiary of the State Trading Organization (STO). It is currently run by Abdulla Mohamed, a former school teacher-turned-politician.

When asked for a comment, Abdulla told Sun that he is currently overseas on an official visit, and is scheduled to return to Male’ on Sunday.

He declined to comment on the allegations.

Maldive Gas has been repeatedly hit with allegations of corruption and bribery since its inception.

During former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administrations, company officials were accused of stealing from oxygen cylinders procured for public hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Abdulla Maumoon, who served as the managing director of Maldive Gas during former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration, is currently on trial for seven counts of bribery after an ACC investigation uncovered that he and his family members received bribes from 3DH International – one of the company’s suppliers.

Investigators traced money transfers totaling USD 298,403.5 Maumoon’s own back account, as well as that of his family members and associated businesses.