A parliamentary sub-committee has raised concerns over whether senior officials of the Maldives Police Service should remain in their positions while investigations into corruption at the Police Cooperative Society (POLCO) continue. The committee noted that high-ranking officials, including Assistant Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners, have been implicated in the case.
During a recent Public Accounts Committee sub-committee meeting, Chair and Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim highlighted findings from an audit report, which pointed to senior police officials’ involvement in 16 key instances of corruption linked to POLCO. The committee is now considering whether these officials should be suspended while the probe is underway.
The corruption allegations initially surfaced in relation to the ‘Blues Housing Project,’ a police flats initiative. The project, originally awarded to Noomadi Company for MVR 580 million with a two-year completion timeline, saw its costs balloon to MVR 1 billion, with multiple contract amendments extending the project duration to 54 months. The Auditor General’s report flagged significant financial irregularities, including an additional MVR 122 million added to project costs.
Beyond the housing project, new allegations have emerged, indicating broader corruption within POLCO’s procurement of goods and services. Nazim revealed that the committee received a whistleblower report from within the police service, containing further evidence of misconduct. Among the documents submitted is a 2019 report sent to then Police Commissioner Mohamed Hameed, which, according to the committee, was not acted upon.
The investigation has been complicated by the reported loss of several crucial POLCO documents due to a server malfunction, as disclosed by Auditor General Hussain Niyaazy. Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is also conducting an independent inquiry into the allegations.
While parliamentary discussions continue, the sub-committee has yet to make a final decision regarding the suspension of implicated police officials. The Parliament Secretariat muted portions of Nazim’s statements during the meeting, citing off-the-record remarks, leaving the committee’s next steps unclear.
