The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has begun investigating allegations of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) using an empty land plot in capital Male to make their party camp.
The graft watchdog on Sunday said that the investigation was initiated on its own accord after media reports of the incident surfaced. However, an individual source had also filed the case with them soon after they began investigation, an official from the commission said.
The case that was filed by the individual source alleged that the ruling party is working with employees of the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure’s Public Works Department to acquit the land.
According to the housing ministry, they were looking for parties to develop the land and had opened it up for bidding thrice before. They have now leased the plot to a party that “scored the highest marks” in their awarding system, the ministry informed.
While the ministry categorically refuted claims of its employees working with the ruling party to build a new party camp in Male, the ministry did not reveal to whom it was leasing the plot of land in question.
Meanwhile, PPM has said that they are building a new party camp around the same area the empty plot is located at, but claims that they leased the land from a private individual.
The ruling party is already building its four-storey party office where the former ‘West Park’ restaurant used to be on the outermost road of north western Male’.
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