A parliamentary investigation has uncovered major discrepancies in the 2022 procurement of body-worn cameras for frontline Maldives Police Service officers, revealing that contracts were repeatedly awarded to companies whose shareholders had already been deemed ineligible by the National Tender Board.

The findings were presented by a sub-committee of the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, which is currently reviewing procurement decisions made by the State-owned police company, POLCO. Body-worn cameras were officially introduced into police operations on 13 February 2022 under the leadership of then-Commissioner of Police.

According to the sub-committee, the police initially awarded Zeta Enterprises a single-source contract to procure 1,400 body-worn cameras, despite the Tender Board ruling that the company did not meet eligibility criteria. The Board noted that while Zeta Enterprises had submitted a supplier-credit letter, its financial statements did not demonstrate the capacity to offer such credit. It further determined that Zeta was not a recognised supplier of security or electronic equipment, and lacked the technical capability required for the project.

The Tender Board also identified inconsistencies in the timeline: the police had already begun procurement procedures before Zeta commenced its trial work on the devices, raising concerns over procedural compliance.

Following the Board's decision, the police re-gazetted the project in October 2021, during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration, for the procurement of 200 cameras. Three bidders participated, and the contract was awarded to Zeta Technologies, a company owned by the same shareholders as Zeta Enterprises.

Although the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) later reviewed the case and found no evidence of corruption at the time, the parliamentary sub-committee states that the procurement timeline now makes clear that companies with overlapping ownership continued to receive contracts despite earlier disqualification.

Deputy Speaker and Chair of the Public Finance Sub-Committee, Ahmed Nazim, said the project’s estimated cost had increased significantly. Originally budgeted at MVR 48 million, expenditure had reached MVR 66 million by the time procurement was completed, an overrun of MVR 18 million.

Nazim said that Zeta Technologies appeared to take control of the procurement process once it began, with the sequence of purchasing 1,400 cameras, followed by 200 and then a further 1,200, raising significant concerns, particularly as the rationale presented centred on the acquisition of just 200 units.

The investigation further revealed that Zeta began acquiring Azon-brand body-worn cameras in 2021 and received exclusive rights for the product in April 2022.

On 27 November 2022, the police awarded Zeta Technologies another contract for 1,200 additional cameras valued at MVR 66 million. However, documents reviewed by the sub-committee show that MVR 67 million was disbursed to the company, exceeding the contracted amount. The committee concluded that this discrepancy resulted in a substantial loss to the State budget.

The Committee’s investigation remains ongoing, with further hearings expected as lawmakers examine POLCO's role in the procurement process and evaluate whether systemic reform is required to prevent similar irregularities.