LGA Suspends Hoarafushi Council President Over Official Misconduct

The Local Government Authority (LGA) has suspended the President of the Haa Alif Atoll Hoarafushi Council, Mohamed Waheed, for official misconduct.

advertisement

advertisement

advertisement

In an inquiry report published yesterday, the LGA stated that it had examined nine complaints concerning the council’s actions, including the procurement of resources, land leasing, and expenditure. The report concluded that the council had breached several laws in relation to these matters.

The LGA noted that it had reviewed a complaint from an individual alleging that the council had unlawfully leased a 5,000-square-foot plot to a private company. According to the report, the manner in which the land was leased created opportunities for corruption.

The report also highlighted several other issues reviewed by the authority, including:

• Breaching Public Finance Regulation guidelines when financing the Thila Uthuru Women’s Volleyball Tournament 2025
  
• Violating the Fiscal Development Plan (land-use plan) by allowing residents to incorporate adjoining empty land into their property boundaries
  
• Breaching Public Finance Regulation guidelines when procuring date palms for planting near the jetty area.
  
• Breaching Public Finance Regulation guidelines when procuring lights for the 1446 Eid celebrations.
  
• Allowing procurement officers to sit on the council’s bidding committee.
  
• Failing to respond to RTI requests submitted to the council.
  
• Breaching Public Finance Regulation guidelines in allocating funds to procure lights for the 1446 Eid celebrations, with the items never delivered.
  

Alongside Council President Mohamed Waheed, the LGA named six other council members, including Vice President Ahmed Imdhah. While these members were not suspended, the authority formally advised them to refrain from repeating such misconduct.