Government silent on action against Deputy Minister Jawaz over MVR 30m FAM loss

The government has yet to say whether any action has been taken against Youth Ministry Deputy Minister Hussain Jawaz over the disappearance of nearly MVR 30 million from land leased to the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) for an international football facility.

A special audit by the Auditor General’s Office found that a significant portion of the payments collected from parties leasing plots in Hulhumale' for the planned training facility had gone missing.

Since Thursday, Sun has repeatedly asked the President’s Office whether the government has taken any steps regarding Jawaz. The Youth Ministry was also asked the same question on Saturday.  

Neither institution has issued a comment, and Jawaz did not respond to calls seeking clarification.

According to the audit report, former FAM President Bassam Adil Jaleel and former FAM Finance Chief Mohamed Ageel were among those who received funds from the land transactions. Bassam is currently serving a 32‑year prison sentence for embezzling FAM funds, while Ageel has been charged and arrested after being on the run.

Jawaz is the only one of the three not currently in custody.

The audit found that Jawaz personally collected MVR 1.2 million in cash from a private company on three separate occasions.

The report, signed by Auditor General Hussain Niyazi, recommends that FAM recover the missing funds and that the matter be forwarded to police for action against those responsible.