The passports of nine people who were banned from leaving the country, in connection with an ongoing investigation into allegations of preparing fake documents and selling land to people who were not eligible under the Binveriya housing scheme, have been released.

The passports of 20 individuals were seized and they were prohibited from leaving the country until 19 March 2025. Among those affected are Housing Development Corporation (HDC) former Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed and his brother Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed.

Police said Fazul and Fazeel were not among the nine people whose passports were released today.

They added that the passports of the nine people were released in consultation with the Prosecutor General (PG).

A joint criminal investigation by the police and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is underway. No one has been formally charged in relation to the issue yet.

The issue surrounding these lands first came to light in July. Two people were given the same land plot and the HDC and the Housing Ministry officially communicated on the matter. But the case was not submitted to an investigating agency.