Leaked audio: Shamah claims he was framed

Ahmed Shamah Rasheed, who was abruptly dismissed as the Managing Director of the State Electric Company (STELCO) yesterday, has denied the authenticity of a leaked audio circulating on social media that allegedly implicates him in corruption at the company.

The leaked audio features a conversation between two individuals, one of whom is alleged to be Shamah. In the recording, the person believed to be Shamah appears to boast about earning money through corrupt practices at STELCO, claiming he makes more from corruption than what he invests in the company.

“I can do things here in two months compared to what I do in three years,” the voice says, referring to money allegedly taken through corruption.

However, when contacted by Mihaaru News, Shamah denied that the voice in the audio was his and said the recording was fabricated to frame him.

“It’s not my voice. It’s not something I said. I am hearing it the same way everyone else is,” Shamah said, adding that no fraud had taken place during his tenure.

In the leaked recording, the person alleged to be Shamah also claims that only two individuals inside STELCO are aware of his activities. The names mentioned are Azhad and Saeed. Azhad was the Head of Procurement at STELCO and was also removed from his position yesterday evening. Saeed is an employee in the company’s human resources department.

“There will be only two people in STELCO who know what I do; Azhad, Saeed, and no one else,” the voice says in the audio.

The recording further includes remarks suggesting that senior STELCO officials underestimate the speaker’s involvement in corruption and believe he is more focused on personal relationships instead.

The speaker claims that those officials would be shocked if they knew the truth.

The audio surfaced amid growing controversy surrounding Shamah’s dismissal.

Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) announced yesterday that Shamah had been removed from the post of Managing Director of STELCO. No official reason has yet been disclosed for his dismissal.

Shamah previously served as Managing Director of the Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company (MIFCO), from which he was dismissed after being suspended over allegations of mismanagement. He later served as State Minister of Fisheries, though he was reportedly not assigned significant responsibilities.

Shamah is the second Managing Director to be dismissed from STELCO under the current administration. Hussain Fahmy, who served the company for 27 years, was appointed MD earlier in the term but was removed in September last year. Fahmy currently serves as Principal Secretary at the President’s Office, a ministerial-level position.