Delay in taking RIX Company to court as case still under investigated: PGO

Prosecutor's General Office (PGO) said on Sunday they have not yet taken MP Ali Riza's RIX Company to court yet regarding the human trafficking allegations as the case was still under investigation.

The case was sent to PGO by the police five months ago. Majority of the employees working at RIX are expatriates.

Ali Riza's (Majilis representative for Milandhoo constituency) company was developing a resort in Baa Bodufinolhu, when the issue of not paying their employees rose on July 1, 2020. RIX Company were contracted to develop the resort.

Police had sent the case against RIX Company to PGO on December 3, 2020. Nearly two weeks later on December 16, PGO accepted the case.

Riza, signed to MDP, is the Managing Director of RIX Company. He has been summoned to the police on human trafficking allegations earlier as well.

Ahmed Shafeeu, media official of PGO and also public prosecutor, had previously told Mihaaru that they were facing delays in taking RIX Company to court because they have been finding other evidence to make the case stronger.

"We are further looking into this while the case is still in PGO. If we send it back [to the police], it may become even more delayed," Shafeeu had said.

President of Public Interest Law Center (PLIC) Mariyam Shunana, working pro bono on this case, had expressed concern for how the case was being delayed.

She had also expressed disappointment at the speed at which the case lodged against RIX Company in the Employment Tribunal of Maldives was proceeding.

The accusations Police have made against RIX Company include exploiting the expatriate workers and making them work via force. The police also accused them of working in a way that leads to human trafficking, and not paying the state some fees RIX Company owes them, in addition to violating worker's rights.

The police has also said that after accepting the contract to develop the resort, RIX Company has brought in expatriate workers on false expectations and in a manner that leads to human trafficking. RIX has also been accused of bringing in more people than allowed by regulations on this matter.