Housing Development Corporation (HDC) has appointed Mauroof Jameel as its new managing director following the resignation of Ibrahim Fazul Rasheed amid allegations of fraudulent land allocations under the government’s “Binveriya” housing scheme.
Jameel, a prominent architect and member of the government’s Housing Committee, assumed the role on Sunday. He has been instrumental in the reclamation and development of Hulhumalé and is regarded as a leading figure in the country’s urban planning initiatives.
The leadership change comes in the wake of Fazul’s resignation on Saturday, which he announced in a letter to President Mohamed Muizzu and shared on his Facebook page. Fazul, under scrutiny for alleged misconduct, denied any wrongdoing by HDC, maintaining that all decisions during his tenure adhered to company policies.
“The allegations against the company in connection with the Binveriya scheme have nothing to do with the company. I wish the truth of the allegations to be revealed to the people at the earliest opportunity,” Fazul stated in his letter.
The scandal centres on claims that HDC facilitated the allocation of land worth MVR 450 million to ineligible individuals, including Fazul’s brother, Mohamed Fazeel Rasheed, the deputy managing director of the Maldives Water and Sewerage Company. Investigations have resulted in the suspension of several senior HDC officials and board members, with the Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) dissolving the board except for Chairman Ahmed Naasif.
Authorities have seized the passports of 20 individuals, including Fazul and Fazeel, to prevent their departure as investigations continue. Five senior HDC executives, including IT Head Abdulla Shuhood and Chief Financial Officer Abdulla Faaidh, have also been suspended.
Meanwhile, the Housing Ministry has taken action against 10 political appointees, and public protests demanding arrests of those implicated continue. Concerns of a cover-up have intensified following a fire that destroyed crucial documents in three government ministries, including the Ministry of Housing, with critics alleging it was a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence.
Presidential spokesperson Helena Waleed has assured that eligible applicants under the Binveriya scheme will receive their rightful allocations. However, public discontent remains high, with opposition parties, including the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), calling for swift action against all involved.
The Maldives Police Service and the Anti-Corruption Commission are conducting investigations, but no formal charges have yet been filed.