Police confiscate phone of Fazeel and several others

Under a court order, the Maldives Police Service today confiscated the mobile phones of MWSC Deputy Managing Director Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed and several others in connection with the recently uncovered Binveriyaa scheme fraud, where Fazeel allegedly obtained a plot of land in Hulhumalé illegally.

Fazeel is the younger brother of former HDC Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed.

Police confirmed tonight that they have seized the phones of Fazeel and multiple others under a court order in connection with the Binveriyaa scheme case.

Other than Fazeel, one other person requested permission to build a wall around their plot. The individual has been identified as Abdul Majeed Mahir, who is from HA. Dhidhhoo. As per the Binveriyaa scheme, only Malé people should have gotten lands.

Fazeel applied for the permit on 30th June. Following the application, HDC sent the registration to the Housing Ministry for verification, which is standard protocol. Since another individual had applied for permission to build a wall around their plot as well, that registration was also sent for clearance through the Housing Ministry.

The Housing Ministry responded to HDC's letter on August 15 this year saying that the two individuals were not included in the Binveriyaa scheme's list and confirmed that the two plots had not been allocated to anyone.

In the case Fazul is accused of using his positional influence to give land in Hulhumalé to his brother Fazeel, who is not eligible for the land.

The passports of 20 people, including Fazul and Fazeel, have also been seized. Others include employees of the Housing Ministry and HDC. Fazeel has since been suspended by the MWSC after the issue came to light. HDC also suspended Fazul but he later resigned on Saturday night claiming that it is allow for the police and ACC investigation.

Police also raided Fazul's house on Monday night and seized some electronic equipment.

Both police and ACC are investigating allegations of corruption in the allocation of Vinares flats and alleged fraud in the allocation of these flats under the Binveriyaa scheme.