Nasheed: ‘Binveriya’ plots awarded unfairly in first place, this was just the latest injustice

The list of recipients of the ‘Binveriya’ housing scheme released in 2023 during the MDP administration was compiled unfairly in the first place, said former president Mohamed Nasheed on Monday, adding that that the recent scandal involving the unfair award of land from Hulhumale’ by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) was just the latest act of injustice linked to the scheme.

Documents leaked on social media last week 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 MDP administration.

In a post on X on Monday afternoon, Nasheed noted that he had previously also expressed concern over the award of land under the ‘Binveriya’ scheme.

He alleged that the list of recipients included multiple individuals who were unfairly awarded land under the scheme.

“But this time, this is being investigated and the management of HDC has been replaced. I hope the police will conduct a good investigation and that Mauroof Jameel will rectify these issues,” said Nasheed.

Nuhaggun goathi bahaafaiva massala aai gulhey gothun anehkaaves dhanavaan othee meege kureegaives dhennevi vaahaka. Kureegaives list hadhaafa vanee beyinsaafun ethah bayakah goathi libey gothah. Mifaharu anehkaves e beyinsaafah ithuru bolheh ekulavaa levunee.

— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) December 23, 2024

The latest corruption allegations implicate Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed, who resigned from his role as the managing director of HDC on Saturday night.

The documents name his older brother Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed, the deputy managing director of Male’ Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC), as one of the people given land from Hulhumale’.

Fazul was replaced with former construction minister Mohamed Mauroof Jameel as the head of HDC on Sunday.

The leaked documents include a letter sent by HDC to the Housing Ministry dated July 24, seeking to verify the owner of Hulhumale’ lot number 20768 – after the corporation received applications from two different individuals – one of them Fazeel - who claimed to have received the plot under the ‘Binveriya’ scheme and asked for permission to build boundary walls around the property.

In response to the letter as well as other similar inquiries, the Housing Ministry wrote back on August 15 that the ‘Binveriya’ database does not show the individuals mentioned in HDC’s letters to have submitted applications under the scheme.

The Housing Ministry also said that Hulhumale’ lot number 20768 as well as another lot – 20821 – had not been awarded by the ministry to anyone. These two plots are claimed by a total of six people.

The final list of recipients of the ‘Binveriya’ scheme publicized in August 2023 lists Fazeel as an applicant, but also shows he was deemed ineligible as he had already been awarded housing under a different social housing scheme.

However, the leaked documents show Fazeel has a land registry for the plot, signed by Housing Ministry’s director general Ahmed Vishan Naseem and dated September 11, 2023.

Fazeel, as well as the entire board of HDC, except for chairman Ahmed Nasif, and at least four top officials in the coorporation's management, were placed under suspension on Thursday. At least 15 officials have since been dismissed.The authorities have also imposed a travel ban on at least 24 officials, including Fazul and Fazeel.

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.

Fazul tendered his resignation on Saturday night - mere hours after more documents leaked on social media appearing to show that multiple individuals were issued apartments from Vinares by the HDC based on forged payment slips to SeaLife Global after it was decided to compensate victims of the SeaLife scam with the apartments.

In his resignation later, Fazul maintained his innocence but said he decided to resign to “make for the investigation” into the case.

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