MVR 61.7 million was given for Thilafushi land reclamation project: Audit Report

The Auditor General’s Report for Thilafushi Corporation Limited (TCL) has stated that MVR 61.7 was paid to Heavy Load Maldives by TCL for the Thilafushi land reclamation project.

The report refers to the project that was awarded in 2011 by the government of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), and states that while two payments were made in advance, it was not possible to conclude that those payments were made for work that was in fact carried out.

The report states that MVR 38.8 million was first provided as advance payment, and MVR 23 million was paid later.

The report also states that MVR 16,927,385 out of MVR 19,927,385 billed by Heavy Load remains unpaid by TCL, because the site engineer had not approved the work done for that amount.

The land reclamation work was contracted to Heavy Load, in which MDP Chairperson Reeko Moosa Manik holds shares, for MVR 208.5 million.

The reclamation work was suspended in 2011 due to an order issued by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in relation to an alleged corruption committed by TCL in awarding a reclamation contract to Heavy Load Maldives, states the report.