Commissioner Shujau stated that an audit is currently underway to investigate the cause of delays in the contracted project to construct police buildings in local islands, despite payments being settled with the contractor.
Commissioner of Police Ali Shujau stated that an audit is underway to investigate the cause of delays in the commissioned project to construct police buildings in several local islands, despite payments being settled with the contractor.
In response to a question by Central Hithadhoo MP Ahmed Azaan in the parliament's Committee on National Security Services (241), the Commissioner stated that an audit is ongoing to investigate why the project has faced delays, as well as how the project had progressed.
Shujau said that additional details will be disclosed once the audit is complete.
"This project was the developing the police's infrastructure. However, the progress made remains unclear. This will be determined once the audits conducted by the relevant government institutions are completed," said Shujau.
He said that while the police stations are equipped with essential equipment, financial difficulties have been a barrier to renovating the stations despite the high expenses required for renovations each year. He further revealed that police premises are now dilapidated as a result.
Giving an example of the police station developed in Baa atoll Eydhafushi approximately 15 years ago, the Commissioner noted that operating the station has become challenging due to the deteriorating condition of the building.
He added that a budget is allocated each year for the renovation of police stations. However, due to budget controls, renovations did not take place.
Moreover, Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan revealed during a press conference held by the Ministry last March that the previous administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had entered into an agreement with India's Indira Project Joint Venture Company to construct 41 police buildings across 61 atolls. The company was paid USD 3.6 million to commence the project at the time.
In review of documents found at the Home Affairs Ministry, Minister Ihusaan disclosed that the agreement was for 85 percent of the project to be funded through India's Exim Bank with the Maldivian government settling the remaining 15 percent.
Exim Bank had later notified that it would not be able to extend the loan. However, records showed that the Maldives' government had already paid the 15 percent in advance by the time they had received this notice from Exim Bank, Ihusan said.
"Maldives' received no funds from India's Exim Bank. Despite this, on March 7, 2023, the government paid the aforementioned company USD 3.6 million. This is a company that purportedly came to bring in funds from abroad and develop police stations in Maldives. However, the initial funds given to the company amounted to USD 3.6 million, provided by the government," the Minister said.
He added that since then, no communication had been made between the government and this company regarding the construction of police stations. Furthermore, subsequent communications have not indicated what was done with the funds in question.
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