All members of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) board, except its chairman, have been suspended pending a police investigation into the alleged sale of plots using forged documents. The documents falsely claimed that individuals who did not receive land under the Binveriya scheme had been sold land.

The Privatisation and Corporatisation Board (PCB), the parent body for state-owned companies, announced in a brief press release that all board members, except Chairman Ahmed Nasif, have been suspended effective today.

Additionally, the PCB has suspended HDC’s Managing Director, Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed, from office until further notice.

The suspension follows Fazul’s statement that the HDC was not involved in the alleged sale of stolen land. During a press conference held after the issue surfaced on social media and in newspapers, he stated that the HDC had not issued any land registry documents or agreements.

HDC Board Members:

• Chairman: Ahmed Nasif
• Managing Director: Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed
• Board Director: Azhar Abdulla Saeed
• Board Director: Ibrahim Yusuf Fulhu
• Board Director: Mohamed Visham
• Board Director: Ula Mohamed Rasheed
• Board Director: Arif Abdul Samad
• Board Director: Mohamed Naajil
• Board Director: Mohamed Waheed
• Board Director: Fathimath Mizna Ali
• Board Director: Yoosuf Waheed

The most serious accusations in the case are against Fazul. Publicly leaked documents revealed that his brother, Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed, the Deputy Managing Director of the Maldives Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC), had requested permission to construct the boundary wall of a plot of land he claimed to own.

Fazul has repeatedly denied granting such permission. However, journalists from Adhadhu confirmed that the lot in question had a recently constructed boundary wall.

Police began their investigation at the HDC office early yesterday evening. The case revolves around the alleged use of forged documents to acquire land.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is also investigating the matter.