The state has so far lost MVR 2.6 million due to the corruption involved in leasing the Male' Fish Market to a private party when President Mohamed Muizzu was mayor of the capital city.
The fish market was leased to FJ Design, a company registered to a man from Laamu Fonadhoo island.
Adhadhu understands that the market was leased to FJ Designs in October 2021 after Muizzu became the mayor.
Since then, the contract with FJ Designs was extended without an announcement.
At a city council meeting on August 13, mayor Adam Azim announced that the property was leased against the decision of the bid committee.
The bid committee decided to lease the fish market to FJ Designs for MVR 130,000 per month. However, the agreement was made for MVR 70,000 per month.
This means the state is losing MVR 60,000 per month.
“The agreement cannot be continued in this way,” Azim said.
A source with information on the matter said the case had been reported to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) one and a half years ago.
The ACC has not revealed whether it has made any efforts to stop the corruption involved in this case.
It is against the Public Finance Act and Rules to try to act in a way that harms the state while helping others to benefit.
The city council has decided to inquire into the agreement without a further extension of its terms.
