The Ministry of Housing, Land, and Urban Development has announced that the allocation of flats under the Gedhoruveriya Housing Scheme will be postponed until further details are obtained regarding the ongoing investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) into corruption allegations.
In a press release, the housing ministry said that it received the initial findings of the ACC investigation on February 1 and subsequently held discussions with the ACC on February 4 to further address the matter. The ACC has pledged to provide additional information from the investigation to facilitate the allocation process.
In response to complaints of corruption, the ACC has temporarily halted the allocation of flats. The first phase of the investigation has concluded and the ACC has presented its findings to the Parliamentary Committee on Independent Institutions.
President of the ACC Adam Shamil said that the investigation assessed application forms and shared its findings with the housing ministry. He emphasised that the ministry will determine the appropriate actions concerning the forms, with the ACC ensuring that its role remains within its mandate. In addition, he noted that the ministry will assist in expediting the allocation process, emphasising that any delays leading to potential corruption would fall under the purview of the ACC.
Despite concerns raised by committee members regarding the integrity of the ACC, Shamil affirmed the commission's commitment to maintaining integrity throughout the investigation. He also said that a decision has not been made regarding the public disclosure of eligible recipients.
The ACC informed the committee that 59.6% of flat recipients were deemed ineligible, particularly those who failed to provide valid documentation proving their residency in Male' City for 15 years. The commission also stated its intention to take action against councils found to have provided false information, even if it falls outside of its mandate, with plans to involve the Maldives Police Service (MPS) in such cases.