The Local Government Authority (LGA) has requested investigative authorities to take action against the Dhuvaafaru Island Council over corruption related to its handling of administrative and financial tasks.
LGA stated that it has been receiving complaints related to the council and that a team was sent to Dhuvaafaru, Raa Atoll, to monitor the situation. The authority stated that a report was formulated based on the team’s findings and has since been approved and made available on the official LGA website.
The report shows multiple incidents of Dhuvaafaru council mismanaging its finances, including corruption related to the handling of its Zakat payments, handing over projects without bids in order to benefit the council employees, and conducting business dealings without filing the necessary documentation. As such, the council was found to have transferred funds to the council director, the council president, and its members, as well as the island’s women’s development committee (WDC) and contract employees without clear indications as to the purpose of the transfer. LGA has found that the council has transferred thousands of US dollars in total.
LGA stated that it allowed the council to respond to the findings of the report before it was published online. LGA has now requested the relevant authorities to investigate the findings of the report and to take action against the council. The authority has also begun work to conduct an inquiry into the council.