The Housing Ministry stated today that the decision to sell a plot of land in Hulhumalé to an individual at a low price was because a plot of land that the government had decided to sell to that person in 2003 was never handed over.

Documents surfaced on social media yesterday revealing that a 1,250-square-foot plot of land in Hulhumalé Phase 2 has been decided to be sold to a person named Ahmed Zahir for MVR 468,750.

In response to the matter, a statement issued by the Housing Ministry said that there are documents showing the government of that time decided in 2003 to sell a 904-square-foot plot of land in Hulhumalé to the person for MVR 339,000.

However, the statement noted that since the plot had not been handed over to him to date, he had been requesting the government to find a solution to the matter.

The ministry said the government therefore decided to sell him a plot in Hulhumalé at the price agreed for the sale of land at the time.

The statement said the plot selected for the sale was a vacant plot left after an agreement to allocate another plot under the previous government’s Binveriya Scheme was cancelled because the intended recipient was found to be ineligible.

According to the statement, the decision to sell the plot to the person was also made upon his agreement to relinquish a plot of land he had received from Gulhifalhu.

However, the statement noted that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has been requested to check whether the Housing Ministry acted correctly in the matter. The statement also added that the plot will only be handed over after obtaining the advice of the ACC and legal counsel.