ACC makes inquiry into release of Heavy Load vehicles without payment of customs duty

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of the Maldives has informed that it has started an inquiry into the recent case of releasing a number of vehicles imported by Heavy Load Maldives without payment of customs duties. Four excavators imported by Heavy Load, a private company owned by Moosa “Reeko” Manik, a prominent member of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and kept in Customs Bonded Warehouse were released by the Maldives Customs Services a few days ago before duties were paid for them.

Muavviz Rasheed, Vice President of the Anti-Corruption Commission said today that the inquiry was begun after the case was extensively reported in the media immediately after the incident occurred. He said that the purpose of the inquiry was to check whether it was done in a way that would lead to corruption.

Field Operations Director Ahmad “Maaz” Saleem of the Z Faction of the main opposition Divehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) today sent a letter to the ACC, requesting investigations of the incident.

In his letter to the ACC, Maaz Saleem stated that the vehicles were released without payment of duties in contravention of the Maldives Customs Act. He referred to Article 67 of the Act which stated that any goods imported into the Maldives shall be withheld by the Customs unless duties were paid, or unless an official decision was made declaring exemption from duties. Maaz also stressed that point that the same Article of the Customs Act stipulated that payment of duties could only be delayed in accordance with a by-law made under the Customs Act, and in exceptional circumstances, or for exceptional and defined kinds of goods as determined by the Customs.

“Yet, no such by-laws have so far been made by the Customs. Hence, we request the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the matter to make sure whether there has been the use of any undue influence and corruption or not”, the letter read.

The Maldives Customs Services had previously said that vehicles brought by Heavy Load company were released on condition that duties due on them should be paid within a period of 48 hours. Customs also said that they were released as they were urgently needed for some works to be done in Addu City in preparation for the upcoming SAARC Summit.

Meanwhile, Heavy Load has paid more than MRF300,000 as duties after the release of vehicles, and within the 48 hour-duration given by Customs.