Huge allegations against MDP: Flats distributed by elite group at Mookai Hotel

Former parliamentarian Mohamed Nihad who represented MDP for the majority of the 19^th parliamentary has alleged that flats were “distributed” while at Mookai Hotel.

Speaking at a ruling PNC event held on Monday night, Nihad alleged that flats and land plots were “distributed” during MDP administration, adding he one of the individuals who knows how the events unfolded the best.

Nihad was elected to the 19^th parliamentary assembly to represent Addu City’s Feydhoo constituency on MDP’s ticket. However, he had switched to ruling PNC following the election of the new administration. He currently serves as state minister for tourism. 

He said flats and land plots were “distributed” during MDP administration while at Mookai Hotel, by an “elite group” within the party that included MPs. Although he did not specify names, Nihad alleged that the individual spearheading these efforts was MDP’s Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail who served as the Economic Minister during the party’s administration. He further alleged that flats and land plots were awarded to a number of people that did not meet the requirements.

In this regard, he said individuals appointed to boards of the state-owned companies during the previous administration were falsely awarded flats and land plots. Individuals who already had flats or land plots to their names were awarded flats and land plots too, he added.

“Individuals who received Hiyaa flats also received Vinanes flats. Individuals who received Vinares flats received the high-priced land plots issued from Hulhumale’ valued from 12 to 30 million Maldivian Rufiyaa,” he said.

Nihad’s allegations pertaining to housing schemes of the MDP administration comes amid allegations HDC is facing for issuing lands under the previous administration’s ‘Binveriya’ scheme to individuals who are not listed in the recipients list.

Former HDC Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed faced the primary allegations, who subsequently resigned from the post claiming he did so to cooperate with the investigation.

Fazul is facing corruption allegations since his elder brother, Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed, the deputy managing director of MWSC was also among those who received land under the scheme. Fazeel however, was initially among those who were ineligible since he had been a recipient of a previous social housing scheme.

More documents leaked on social media also appeared to show that multiple individuals were issued apartments from Vinares by the HDC based on forged payment slips to SeaLife Global after it was decided to compensate victims of the SeaLife scam with the apartments.