Critics have accused the Maldives Police Service of echoing the Muizzu government’s pattern of blaming the previous administration whenever allegations of corruption or mismanagement arise. They claim this narrative shifts accountability away from the current government and erodes public trust in both the administration and law enforcement.
The accusations follow a statement by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Abdulla Shareef, who revealed Thursday that individuals questioned in connection with the alleged fraudulent sale of land under the “Binveriya” housing scheme claimed the documents in question were issued by the previous government.
Shareef added that the authenticity of the documents is yet to be confirmed and remains under investigation. Among those questioned was Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed, the brother of Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Managing Director Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed, who reportedly stated he was granted land by the previous administration.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Maldives Police Service and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), but the ACC has yet to comment on its findings.
The controversy comes amid broader allegations of fraudulent land allocations, which led to the suspension of all HDC board members except Chairman Ahmed Naasif. Additional scrutiny has followed a fire last week that destroyed critical documents in three government ministries, including the Ministry of Housing, further fuelling suspicions about a possible cover-up.
The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has called for Fazul’s immediate dismissal and urged swift action against all those involved. In a statement, the MDP criticised investigative agencies for failing to act decisively on corruption in state-owned enterprises.
The government has yet to issue a detailed response to the ongoing crisis.