USD is issued for Umrah pilgrims by submitting departure tickets and related paperwork.
![[File] Pilgrims with their families before departure](https://cdn.mihaaru.com/photos/2017/08/07/154581_4_42ddea506e5afa6ff4a2d0d519abc81467717e45_thumb.jpg)
Ministry of Islamic Affairs has initiated an investigation into allegations of fraudulent transactions by a company authorized to facilitate Umrah pilgrimages for Maldivians this year.
In a message to the media today, Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed said that the company is accused of withdrawing USD from Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) under the pretense of arranging Umrah pilgrimages. However, the company reportedly did not send any pilgrims and is believed to have used fake documents.
USD is issued for Umrah pilgrims by submitting departure tickets and related paperwork.
The ministry has not yet disclosed the name of the company.
If the allegations are proven the company will face a fine of MVR 30,000, suspension of its operating license, and will be forwarded to police for further investigation.
The case came to light during an ongoing investigation into Al Hijra Travels and Tours, a company responsible for leaving 23 Maldivian pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia last December. The pilgrims were brought back last Saturday.
In addition to this case, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs has identified other companies that violated regulations outlined in the Gazette issued last October. As a result, 19 companies have been fined MVR 5,000 each for non-compliance.
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![[File] Pilgrims with their families before departure](https://cdn.mihaaru.com/photos/2017/08/07/154581_4_42ddea506e5afa6ff4a2d0d519abc81467717e45_medium.jpg)