Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has pressed charges of human trafficking against Parliamentarian Ali Riza.
PGO has charged Parliamentarian Riza and two other individuals with trafficking foreign workers for the resort development project in Bodufinolhu, Baa Atoll. Riza is charged with illegally bringing in a large number of foreign workers for the resort development project since 2015 through sponsorships from RIX Private Limited.
PGO stated the company had been repeatedly transferring foreign workers to different islands and forced them to work without pay through threats and intimidation. PGO added that Riza had dismissed the workers who protested over not receiving a salary or compensation, and forced them to work at Bodufinolhu on a long-term basis.
The case also includes Riza obstructing a court-ordered police search operation at the RIX office building. PGO stated Hassan Umar and Nasrulla Usman have also been charged for participating in human trafficking activities with Riza.
The exploitation of foreign workers at Bodufinolhu was uncovered in July 2020.