Minister Ihusan stated that the company contracted to build police buildings have now been identified and revealed that they hold the USD 3.6 million paid by the government for the project.
Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Ali Ihusaan has stated that the Indian company contracted by the former government to construct police buildings in various atolls across the country has been identified and revealed that the company is in possession of the USD 3.6 million (MVR 55.5 million) that the government paid as advance for the project at the time.
The former administration had launched a project worth USD 41 million to build police headquarters in 61 islands and contracted an Indian company to undertake it.
Eighty five percent of the project's funding was set to be covered by the Exim Bank of India and the remaining fifteen percent was decided to be settled by the Maldivian government.
However, Ihusaan had formerly stated that Exim Bank had later notified that it would not be able to extend the loan. However, records showed that the Maldives' government had already paid the 15 percent in advance by the time they had received this notice from Exim Bank.
He elaborated that the government had funded USD 3.6 million to the company on March 7, 2023 and that the whereabouts of both the company and the funds were subsequently lost.
Responding to a question addressing this issue during the press conference held today by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology and the institutions run under it, Ihusan revealed that the company has now been identified. He revealed that the agreement between the Maldives State and the company had been arranged through a joint venture.
However, Ihusaan explained that the joint venture has since been dissolved, and that the company further informed that it is in possession of the USD 3.6 million paid by the government earlier.
"From what we have ascertained now, USD 3.6 million from the Maldives State was deposited in that company's account. The company is saying that this money remains in their account," Ihusan said.
The Home Minister further stated that the company has claimed it will construct police stations amounting to the total cost of USD 3.6 million in various islands once the legal issue of the dissolving of the joint venture by the company the project was awarded too is settled.
While the case has been lodged to the police for further investigation, Ihusan stated that it will also be submitted to the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) as well.
Sign In
