ACC Seeks Charges Against Akram, Officials Over Gedhoruveriya Misconduct

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has submitted a high-profile case to the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO), recommending charges against former State Minister Akram Kamaaluddin and three other senior officials from the previous administration, over alleged misconduct in the initial phase of the Gedhoruveriya housing scheme.

According to a statement from the ACC, the investigation—conducted jointly with the Maldives Police Service—uncovered evidence that Akram and the other accused misused their official positions to unfairly benefit certain individuals in the first round of housing allocations under the MDP-led government.

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The ACC has asked the PGO to prosecute the accused under Section 513(b) of the Maldives Penal Code, which criminalizes the misuse of an official position to confer undue advantage.

The three other officials named in the case are:

Akram Kamaluddin – Former State Minister

Mohamed Arif – Former Senior Executive at the Ministry

Shiruam Waheed – Former Senior Executive at the Ministry

Ahmed Vishan Naseem – Former Director General at the Ministry

Allegations of Unfair Allocation

Akram has publicly denied the allegations on several occasions, maintaining that the housing allocations were handled within legal and procedural frameworks.

However, the ACC said their investigation uncovered manipulation of the point-based system used to select recipients, resulting in unfair inclusion of certain individuals in the first 4,000-flat list.

Background: Gedhoruveriya Scheme’s First 4,000-Unit List

The Gedhoruveriya Scheme, introduced by the MDP government in 2022, aimed to tackle the chronic housing shortage by allocating 4,000 flats in its first phase. 

However, the release of the original list sparked public outcry, with many alleging that deserving candidates were left out while others were included through political favoritism or manipulation of criteria. This prompted the ACC’s intervention and a wider investigation.

Current Government’s Review and Revised List

After taking office, the current administration formed a special committee to review the original 4,000-recipient list. A revised list was released earlier this year, which removed a significant number of applicants from the MDP-era list. The move triggered a wave of complaints from affected individuals and political critics.

In response, Dr. Abdulla Muththalib, Minister of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure, assured the public that a new and corrected list will be published soon. He reiterated that the government’s intention is not to exclude all recipients from the previous list, but rather to remove only those who were found to be ineligible based on transparent and fair criteria.

Further Investigations Underway

The ACC noted that the case remains open as more potential offenses related to the scheme are being investigated. These may include further charges under additional provisions of the Penal Code.

As the case now rests with the PGO for prosecution decisions, the controversy continues to raise broader questions about accountability, governance, and equity in public housing policy.