Corruption in the initial housing project for Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) staff brought the project to a halt, while preparations for a new project are now under way.
Cases of fraud were brought to light during the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government surrounding MTCC's housing project for its staff, with the case currently at trial. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) forwarded the names of former MTCC CEO Hassan Shah and four other then senior officials of the company to the Prosecutor General for prosecution, with them being charged. The case is currently in the preliminary stage.
ACC requested for charges in the case to be pressed against then MTCC CEO Hassan Shah, General Manager and Tender Evaluation Committee Member Shifau Ali, H. Fairy Land, Tender Evaluation Committee members Hussain Zuhuree, Paakeeza, Sh. Komandoo, Mohamed Nazim, M. Pompiya, Ismail Adhuham, G. Nila.
Current MTCC CEO and Managing Director Ahmed Saudee told Mihaaru News today that they are close to acquiring the plot of land in Hulhumale' Phase 2 that is needed for the housing project from the Housing Development Corporation (HDC).
A leadership team including Saudee met with HDC Managing Director Ali Zuhair yesterday to wrap up the administrative side of things in MTCC purchasing the 12,000 square foot plot.
"We are close to acquiring the plot. We are currently deciding the size of the building, how many rooms it will have and how tall the building will be. How many units would we need if we decide on three-room apartments, for example. That is what we are trying to determine. We want staff opinions on this as well," said Saudee.
According to him, under President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's policy to provide housing for government employees, practical work on the construction of the building for MTCC staff will begin within the year.
Flats have been constructed in Hulhumale' for staff from various state owned companies to provide them with housing.
The case investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission concerns allegations that, during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration in 2017, a contract to construct two 15-storey towers in Hulhumale' Phase 2 under the MTCC staff housing project was awarded to a foreign company after it was allegedly given points that did not meet the evaluation criteria.
