The Maldives Police Service (MPS) has conducted a series of raids on the residences of two former senior officials of the Road Development Corporation (RDC) as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of corruption and embezzlement of state funds.
The operation targeted the residence of former RDC Managing Director Moosa Ali Manik and former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Yasir Hassan. In addition to Manik's residence, police officers raided two locations associated with Hassan. During the raids, electronic equipment belonging to the two individuals was seized, although the police have not disclosed the specifics of the confiscated devices.
The allegations centre around payments made from RDC to private companies connected to both Manik and Hassan during the previous administration led by the now-opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). The MPS launched its investigation into these allegations in November 2023.
Further allegations suggest that approximately USD 908,265 was deposited into the personal bank account of one of the senior RDC officials during the previous government. According to police, they have found evidence indicating that three individuals were involved in the alleged embezzlement of these funds, which were circulated between their private bank accounts. Approximately USD 713,187 was deposited into the bank account of one suspect, while another USD 259,504 was deposited into the accounts of the other two suspects, police said.
Police also revealed that 216 transactions were made from the RDC's bank account to the account of one suspect during the period in question. They are currently investigating a number of other transactions related to various individuals connected to these activities. Police also allege that some of the embezzled funds eventually ended up in the bank accounts of leaders of the former government and their associated private companies.