Maldives Ports Limited (MPL)'s Chairperson Mohamed Zaki, on Wednesday, disclosed that a recent corruption scandal had cost the company MVR 8 million in "fuel theft".
According to the statement made on Twitter, he was "extremely sorry" for being unable to "suspend the fuel theft suspects" under the government's 'Zero Tolerance' to corruption policy.
I am extremely sorry as the Chairman, that I was not able to suspend the fuel theft suspects at MPL under #Zerotollerance who has robbed more then MVR 8 million fm the company. Yes 3 votes and no 4 votes @24th BM MPL. Also #FMS staff involved in this huge theft @ibusolih #ACC
— Datozaki (@datomzaki) November 25, 2020
Within 12 hours of Zaki's tweet, MPL promptly released a statement revealing that the scandalous transactions had occurred following the nationwide lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company further noted that company staff members suspected of being involved in the graft were now suspended, based on findings laid out in an internal audit report.
In addition to confirming the launch of a formal investigation, MPL confirmed that relevant authorities, including the Anti Corruption Commission, Maldives Police Service and the Auditor General’s Office, were notified and being kept abreast of the matter.
In Zaki's tweet, he alleged that "FMS staff" were involved in the theft.
However, per local media reports, it is widely believed that he was referring to the employees of the State Trading Organization (STO)'s subsidiary Fuel Service Maldives (FSM) instead.
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