Audit prompts criminal probe into Center Enterprises

The Attorney General’s Office has requested a criminal investigation against Center Enterprises after an audit revealed that the company submitted forged documents to the Civil Court.

According to the audit report issued Sunday by the Auditor General’s Office, Center Enterprises had filed a lawsuit seeking payment for medical equipment and consumables allegedly supplied to the Department of Medical Services (DMS) under the Ministry of Health in 2008. The company claimed USD 2.01 million in unpaid dues, plus USD 3.14 million in late fines, totaling USD 5.15 million.

However, the audit found that some documents submitted to court listed “Aishath Haleem” as assistant project manager at DMS, though no such person had ever worked at the department or the ministry. The company also failed to provide delivery notes to prove that the equipment was sent to hospitals, despite claiming separate notes were issued for each location.

The report noted that Center Enterprises has a history of filing lawsuits against state-owned companies for unpaid goods.

Special Audit of Center Enterprises Pvt Ltd's Financial Claim for Alleged Provision of Medical Equipment and Consumables to the Ministry of Health (DMS) in 2008https://t.co/kq2gtfr6I4 pic.twitter.com/0YjOpha9Od

— AGO (@AuditMV) October 19, 2025

In this case, Auditor General Hussain Niyazi advised the Attorney General’s Office to verify the authenticity of the documents and forward them to police for action against those involved in the forgery.

In February last year, the Civil Court ruled in favor of Center Enterprises, ordering the state to pay MVR 32.7 million within a month. The state appealed the verdict to the High Court and sought to withhold payment. The company then approached the Supreme Court, but the registrar declined to accept the case.

Center Enterprises also sought an additional MVR 51 million in penalties, but the court rejected the claim, citing the absence of a contractual clause allowing fines. The company had filed three civil suits between 2006 and 2008, one involving the Ministry of Environment and two concerning medical equipment allegedly supplied to DMS.

This is not the first time a criminal investigation has been initiated against the company.