MDP’s Fayyaz slams ‘baseless’ investigation as he is grilled in ACC corruption probe

Fayyaz Ismail, the chairperson of main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), described the investigation launched against him by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over a 2019 settlement as “baseless” on Monday, after he was grilled by the commission’s investigators, who he said lacked even the most basic information pertaining to the investigation.

Fayyaz, who served as economic minister during the MDP administration, went to the ACC headquarters in Male’ on Monday morning, in response to a summons for questioning over a settlement awarded to Swift Engineering in 2019 as compensation for the termination of a government contract.

Addressing supporters and journalists gathered outside the ACC headquarter, Fayyaz called the ACC’s investigation “completely baseless.”

“This investigation lacks any basis. I wish to point out that they do not have any details regarding the investigation they are conducting,” he said.

Fayyaz said that he had only “ugly” things to say about the ACC’s investigation.

މި ޕާޓީގެ ޗެއަރޕާސަން އަދި މިދިޔަ ސަރުކާރުގެ އިކޮނޮމިކް މިނިސްޓަރު ފައްޔާޒު އިސްމާއިލް މިއަދު ހެނދުނު އޭސީސީއަށް ހާޒިރުކުރުން. @faya_i pic.twitter.com/MhHvprQxOq

— MDP Secretariat (@MDPSecretariat) October 13, 2025

Fayyaz is accused of abusing his authority as a member of the alternate dispute resolution committee which made the decision to provide Swift Engineering - a company that Saudhulla Hilmy, an incumbent parliamentarian from the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), has stakes in - with an undue benefit, precluding the state of a benefit, and causing losses to the state.

These allegations are denied by Fayyaz.

Meanwhile, Saudulla has also defended the settlement awarded to his company. He said that the company wasn’t given a cash payout, but was compensated with projects with terms favorable terms for the government.

The ACC has also recently opened investigations against two additional former MDP ministers; former Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer and former Education Minister Dr. Aishath Ali.4

MDP describes the investigations as acts of political persecution aimed at silencing dissent.