Minister Muthhalib said that illegally obtained flats would be repossessed by the government.
The government will not bear responsibility for losses resulting from housing scams and will confiscate land and flats obtained through illegal means, Housing Minister Dr. Abdulla Muthhalib said today.
Speaking at a press conference by the Housing Ministry, Minister Muthhalib addressed ongoing scams tied to the Binveriyaa and Gedhoruveriyaa schemes introduced by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration. He also acknowledged that land plots and flats have ben issued against regulations, emphasising the government’s commitment to investigate such cases and repossess properties acquired unlawfully.
He said that investigations into illegal allocation of lands will begin with those issued from Hulhumalé Phase 2.
“Even if the land is registered and fenced, if it was given to an ineligible candidate, we will confiscate it. If an individual has obtained a land against regulations by employing corrupt [measures], whether it was through a scam or not, or whether it was through HDC, we will confiscate it," the minister warned.
"I am warning the public not to engage in such actions. Do not attempt to buy land registrations by paying two to three hundred thousand Maldivian Rufiyaa. You will not get it. It will not happen."
The scandal has already led to the resignation of former Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Managing Director Fazul Rasheed after it was discovered that a plot was issued to his brother Fazeel Rasheed despite being ineligible. The case is currently under investigation by both the police and the Anti-Corruption Commission.
In an effort to rectify issues in the housing sector, the government today announced plans to verify the flat recipient list of 4,000 individuals announced by the previous administration rather than reviewing applications from over 20,000 people awaiting allocation. The minister said this is being done to ensure the lands go to rightful owners.
According to the minister, the verified list of 4,000 names would be made public, clearly identifying those actually eligible and those who are not. He further said that he hopes most people on the list do get their flats, but reminded that if illegal method were employed, they would not be getting flats.
Minister Muthhalib also noted that agreements made with some flat recipients by the previous government would be voided if they were found to be ineligible. However, the government has yet to decide what will be done with any flats remaining after this process.
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