Zetta denies Nazim’s claim of MVR 18M excess in bodycam deal

Zetta Technologies Pvt Ltd, the company where former Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed now works, has denied allegations of corruption in the procurement of body-worn cameras for the Maldives Police Service.

The allegations were made by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Ahmed Nazim, who raised concerns over the contract awarded during Hameed’s tenure. Nazim claimed the police awarded a contract worth MVR 66 million under single-source procurement rules, after an initial tender was canceled and re-awarded.

He argued that the issue warranted scrutiny, especially since Hameed joined the company after retiring from his post as commissioner. Nazim had previously voiced similar concerns, which Hameed denied.

The matter resurfaced during a Public Accounts Committee sub-committee meeting on Wednesday, where Nazim alleged that the contract to supply 1,400 body-worn cameras was awarded before requirements were finalized. He claimed the company initially quoted MVR 48 million, but the final contract was signed for MVR 66 million, leaving an unexplained MVR 18 million difference.

In response, Zetta Technologies issued a statement through its legal team, rejecting Nazim’s claims as false. The company clarified that it had never submitted a proposal quoting MVR 48 million. The agreed cost, including tax, was MVR 66.4 million, and this figure remained unchanged before and after the agreement was signed.

The company also noted that the payment was structured over a four-year period and stated it had not been contacted during the committee’s hearing.

Zetta further expressed concern that Nazim’s remarks implied the company had acted to provide illegal benefits or facilitate corruption, despite lacking accurate information.