President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has issued a stern warning to the heads of state-owned companies underscoring his firm stand against corruption and abuse of power.
In a message sent to the Whatsapp group for heads of state-owned companies, the President warned that anyone found to have engaged, facilitated or overlooked any form of corruption or abuse of power will face immediate action.
The President insisted that no act of corruption or abuse of power in any way or form will be tolerated, adding that “Zero Tolerance” on corruption will be enforced to the letter.
“If anyone commits, facilitates or even ignores any illegal act or facilitates someone to do something unjust or if I receive any such information I will take necessary action,” President Muizzu warned.
“Will not tolerate corruption. Zero tolerance will be implemented in its truest sense.”
President’s warning comes as the government grapples with intense public outrage over a housing scheme fraud scandal.
On Wednesday, the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) came under heavy scrutiny after it emerged that land plots had been issued to non-recipients under the Binveriyaa Scheme. In response, the entire HDC board, with the exception of its Chairperson, were suspended, along with the corporation’s Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed.
The allegations around Fazul are particularly controversial as his brother, Deputy Managing Director of Malé Water and Sewerage Company Pvt. Ltd. (MWSC) Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed is directly implicated in the scandal.
Fazeel has likewise been suspended from his position pending the outcome of the investigation.
Several heads of state-owned companies have come out in support of the President’s firm stand.
The police confirmed that the court had sanctioned the travel bans of 20 people connected to the ongoing investigation into the alleged fraud in the allocation of land and flats under the previous government’s ‘Binveriyaa’ and ‘Gedhoruveriyaa' housing scheme.
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) meanwhile, has launched a separate investigation to look into the allegations of corruption in the scandal.
Prosecutor General Abbas Shareef has ordered MPS and the ACC to seek charges if any violations are found.
In addition, the Prosecutor General has also asked the authorities to provide weekly updates on the progress of the investigation.