PO spokesperson: Rights of all ‘Binveriya’ land owners will be safeguarded

The rights of any of the recipients of land under the ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme have not and will not be violated, said Heena Waleed, the chief spokesperson at the President’s Office on Thursday, a day after the police launched a criminal investigation into allegations that the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) issued plots from Hulhumale’ to people who were not on the list of recipients of land under the scheme.

Documents leaked on social media on Wednesday appeared to show that multiple people were given land from Hulhumale’ under the ‘Binveriya’ scheme despite not being on the list of recipients released in 2023 during the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration.

This includes HDC’s managing director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed’s elder brother Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed, the deputy managing director of Male’ Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC).

The entire board of HDC, except for chairman Ahmed Nasif, were placed under suspension indefinitely on Thursday, as the police conduct a criminal investigation into the allegations.

In a post on X on Thursday morning, Heena said the decision to suspend the board members was made “to make way for an independent and speedy criminal investigation” by the police.

“We provide assurance that this has not and will not result in the loss of the rights of any of the people who have received land,” she added.

ފުލުހުން އިސްނަގައިގެން އެޗްޑީސީގައި ކުރިއަށްގެންދާ ޖިނާއީ ތަޙުޤީޤު މިނިވަންކަމާއެކު ބާރަށް ކުރިއަށް ގެންދިއުމަށް ޖާގަ ދިނުމަށް، އެޗްޑީސީގެ ބޯޑުގެ ޗެއަރމަން ފިޔަވައި ، ކުންފުނީގެ މެނޭޖިންގ ޑިރެކްޓަރާއި އެހެން ހުރިހާ މެންބަރުން ތަޙްްޤީޤު ނިމެންދެން ސަސްޕެންޑް ކުރައްވައިފިއެވެ.…

— Heena Waleed (@MvSpokesperson) December 19, 2024

In a press conference held on Thursday night – as angry protestors surrounded the HDC headquarters in Hulhumale’ – Fazul denied the allegations against HDC, insisting that the corporation has no involvement in issuing plots under the ‘Binveriya’ scheme.

He also played off the implication of his brother as a mere “coincidence”, and insisted that the situation does not pose a conflict of interest.

The allegations against HDC are now the subject of a criminal investigation by the police. Investigators were seen raiding the corporation’s headquarters on Thursday evening – within hours after the corruption allegations hit mainstream media.

9,003 plots of land were awarded under phase one of the ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme, from land reclaimed or being reclaimed from Hulhumale’, Gulhifalhu and Giraavarufalhi.

The corruption scandal comes amid mounting public frustration over the delay in handover of flats and land awarded under the MDP administration’s housing schemes.