The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has seized the passports of 20 individuals, including Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed, Managing Director of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), and his brother Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed, Deputy Managing Director of Male’ Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC).

The seizure is part of a joint investigation by the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) into alleged corruption and irregularities in the Binveriya and Gedhoruveriya housing schemes.

This joint probe, ordered by Prosecutor General Uz Abbas Shareef, aims to assess the legitimacy of land and flat allocations. The ACC and police are investigating claims that plots were improperly awarded to individuals not eligible under the Binveriya scheme.

Initial findings revealed unverified documents submitted by non-applicants attempting to acquire land, including three slots sought by individuals not on the official applicant lists.

To ensure the investigation proceeds seamlessly, the Privatisation and Corporatisation Board (PCB) has suspended all members of HDC’s Board of Directors, except Chairman Ahmed Nasif.

The Prosecutor General’s Office invoked Article 223(f) of the Constitution to mandate the inquiry, directing authorities to ensure all procedures were followed correctly in identifying beneficiaries.

At a recent press conference, Assistant Commissioner of Police Abdulla Shareef disclosed that the Housing Development Corporation had sought the Housing Ministry’s confirmation regarding the authenticity of documents after discovering multiple applications for the same lots.

The controversy gained traction after a social media post alleged a plot had been illegally allocated to a person linked to Fazul’s family.

Police have assured that the investigation will hold any culpable parties accountable and restore public trust in the housing allocation process.