Police have handed over MVR 1.4 million seized from the residence of former Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed, who resigned after being suspended in connection with a land sale scandal, before concluding the investigation.
Fazul's residence Maafannu Zeyvaru in Male' was raided by the police on December 22 in connection with the land sale scandal. There are allegations that documents were forged and land was sold to people who were not eligible under the Binveriya housing scheme.
Police said in a message to the media that the money had now been returned to the owner "after verifying what needs to be checked."
Within 24 hours of reports that more than a million Rufiyaa in cash were found in Fazul's residence, Relax Ferry Service revealed that the company gave him MVR 1.4 million in cash.
In a Facebook post, Relax Ferry Service said it had paid the money to Fazul's company in early December to build a speedboat.
Police have not yet released any information related to the investigation. They first told reporters that there were no accusations against Fazul in the land sale scandal, but later proceeded to raid his home.
Besides Fazul, his brother Mohamed Fazeel, suspended Deputy Managing Director of Maldives Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC), is also being investigated. Fazeel was among those who bought lands with the forged documents.
