Majlis Orders ACC Investigation into 14 Corruption Cases Involving Addu City Council

The People’s Majlis has passed a motion directing the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate 14 cases of alleged corruption identified within Addu City Council audit reports.

The decision followed the submission of a comprehensive review by the Majlis Public Accounts Committee, which audited 11 financial and compliance reports spanning from 2012 and continuously from 2015 through 2024.

Under the parliamentary directive, the ACC must provide an initial update on specific cases within 30 days and submit bi-monthly progress reports to the Public Accounts Committee on all ongoing inquiries.

Key issues flagged for graft investigations include:

• Irregularities surrounding land compensation provided in the Maamendhoo area.
• Unauthorized extension of lease terms for several council-rented properties.
• Procedural breaches in acquiring a pickup truck for the Hithadhoo Ward Office.
• Procurement violations during the purchase of a snorkel lift for Feydhoo municipal operations.
• Creation of specific job positions to channel illegal financial gain to targeted individuals.
• Tender process manipulation regarding the construction of the Maradhoo Fish Market.
• Awarding council headquarters repair work to a firm linked to shared ownership interests.
• Expanding land plots allocated for tourism across various wards without public tenders.
• Unlawful cash disbursements made under circumstances facilitating corruption.
• Handing over security operations for council facilities without renewing baseline contracts.
• Procuring significant volumes of goods and services outside Public Finance Regulations without required public notices.
• Controversial land-owner compensation distributed during street levelling for the Maradhoo main road asphalt project.

Beyond the corruption probes sent to the ACC, the Majlis resolved to refer criminal matters highlighted in the 2022–2023 compliance audits and the 2024 financial statement audits to the Maldives Police Service. Majlis instructed both agencies to conduct joint investigations where jurisdictions overlap, submit progress updates every two months, and hand over final reports to the committee upon completion.