Audit report reveals corruption involving former Works Corporation MD

An audit report issued by the Auditor General’s Office on Wednesday on Works Corporation has revealed that its former Managing Director (MD) Abdulla Javid was involved in corruption, and misused the company’s funds on several occasions.

The report states that Javid, when he acted as MD of Works Corporation during the government of former President Mohamed Nasheed, credited his own company’s account with MVR 18,000 from the budget of Works Corporation for the preparation of a ceremony in Gulhi Falhu, without any documentation.

The Auditor noted that Javid also paid MVR 146,999 to his own account for the purchase of a Total Station, but this equipment was never received by Works Corporation.

The report stated that over MVR 600,000 was paid to the company’s chairman as special allowance between June 2009 and December 2010, in breach of the government’s policy on salaries and allowances of Board Members.

The report also revealed that the government awarded 34 projects to Works Corporation, out of which 24 were never implemented.

For instance, Works Corporation terminated its contract with Design Build Solution for the harbour construction project in Noonu Velidhoo after the company failed to implement the project, but never reclaimed the MVR 2.1 million paid to Design Build Solution as advance payment.

Similarly, Works Corporation paid MVR 2.1 million to Coastal Ventures for work that was never carried out regarding the harbour construction project in Raa Fainu.

The report also noted that Works Corporation made no effort to claim MVR 134,055 owed by various companies, and disregarded existing procedures when paying salaries, allowances and giving promotions.

The present government has decided to dissolve Works Corporation, and

Javid has been investigated by the police following accusations of involvement in the planning of the murder of former Ungoofaaru MP, religious scholar Dr Afrasheem Ali.