Five laptops stolen from HDC office in Farukolhufushi

Five laptops have been stolen from Housing Development Corporation (HDC) amid investigation of the authority over allegations of corruption.

Maldives Police Service, shared a message with media on Monday evening confirming that the theft was reported to them.

The authority added that the laptops were stolen from HDC’s project office at Farukolhufushi, and added that the prime suspect of this case is already in custody over a drug-related case.

While the stolen items have not been recovered, police said it was currently trying to recover the items and added they were investigating the case.

Some media outlets reported laptops from the corporation’s finance department had been lost, which HDC had denied.

The theft has come amid allegations HDC is facing for issuing lands under ‘Binveriya’ scheme to individuals who are listed in the recipients list.

HDC Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed faces the primary allegations, but he had resigned from the post claiming he did so to cooperate with the investigation.

Fazul is facing corruption allegations since his elder brother, Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed, the deputy managing director of Male’ Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) was also among those who received land under the scheme. Fazeel however, was initially among those who were ineligible since he had been a recipient of a previous social housing scheme.

Several HDC employees have been suspended in relation to the case as well.