Zaki resigns as chairman of MPL

Mohamed Zaki (Nazaki Zaki) has stepped down as the chairman of Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), four days after he blew the whistle on corruption within MPL, valued at over MVR 8 million.

Zaki  blew the whistle on the corruption in a tweet on Wednesday. He said the corruption took place in transactions linked with the fuel trade, and that the company’s Board failed to support efforts to suspend employees suspected of involvement in the corruption.

I am extremely sorry as the Chairman, that I was not able to suspend the fuel theft suspects at MPL under #Zerotollerance who has robbed more then MVR 8 million fm the company. Yes 3 votes and no 4 votes @24th BM MPL. Also #FMS staff involved in this huge theft @ibusolih #ACC

— Datozaki (@datomzaki) November 25, 2020

Zaki tendered his resignation earlier this Monday.

He told Sun that he made the decision to resign because he does not believe he will be able to fulfill the responsibilities of his position without the support of the Board.

“If the chairman fails [to secure support] to suspend the head of the department that carried out the theft pending the outcome of the investigation, how is he to serve as chairman?” he said.

Zaki said that he failed to secure support from the Board to suspend any department head in connection to the case.

“The Board is unable to hold the management accountable. And the management is unable to hold any subordinates accountable.  So how am I to serve as chairman?” he said.

MPL released an official press statement a day after Zaki revealed the corruption, stating they found some of the transactions conducted during the COVID-19 lockdown involved corruption, prompting an internal audit.

MPL said they suspended an unspecified number of employees suspected of involvement in the corruption, and has requested the police, the Auditor General’s Office, and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for further investigations.