Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed corruption charges against the former Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director of Maldives Integrated Tourism Development Corporation (MITDC).
Former Managing Director Mohamed Shahid and Deputy Managing Director Shakeeba Hussain are being charged for their role in contracting a company called Links-I Incorporated to procure cold spark machines for the 2018 New Year’s Show hosted by MITDC. They are accused of using their position and influence to provide an illegitimate benefit to a certain party.
ACC revealed MITDC had paid USD 7,234 to Links-I for the purchase of the cold spark machines, although the machines had not arrived in time for the show. ACC revealed there was no documentation indicating who had instructed the order to be placed or who had requested the machines.
ACC further revealed that despite the machines not being delivered, MITDC had not undertaken any effort to retrieve the funds spent for the purchase until the management changed in 2019 and the new management ordered Links-I to hand over the machines. ACC also noted the payment for the machines had been signed off by the managing director and deputy managing director, despite the lack of documents needed as per the procurement policies of the company.
MITDC is a 100% state owned enterprise mandated to support and to foster the development and growth of the mid-market segment of the tourism industry of Maldives. In 2019, the company revealed the former administration had utilised the company’s funds for the construction of an office for Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) under the guise of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project.