Corruption cases against Thaufeeg and some others sent to PG

Cases have been filed to Prosecutor General’s (PG) Office against Political Advisor to the President and former Director of Maldives Ports Authority (MPA) Ahmed Thaufeeg and some others accusing them of corruption regarding the purchase of a pick-up by MPA.

The others involved in the case are former Director of MPA Hussain Hilmy, Assistant Managing Director of MPA Hussain Naeem and Assistant Director of MPA Ibrahim Rasheed.

A statement issued by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) states that investigations had revealed that while the announcement made by MPA for the purchase of a pickup on 30 October 2007 states that the vehicle should be able to carry a load of 2000 kg, the pickup purchased could only carry a load of 1250 kg.

The statement says that an employee had stated on the goods-receive note that the pickup purchased was not the one wanted by MPA. ACC said that the change in price due to the lesser load that could be carried by the vehicle was not considered when the payment was made, and that the payment voucher was signed by Hilmy and Naeem.

ACC said that Thaufeeg, Rasheed and Naeem, who were in the evaluation committee, had decided to accept the vehicle against the agreement and while being aware that MPA required a vehicle that could carry 2000 kg and that the pickup in question could only carry 1250 kg.