Centre Enterprises Accused of Submitting False Files in Payment Claims, AGO Requests Police Investigation
Attorney General Uz Ahmed Usham at the Ahaa Forum hosted by PSM on May 12, 2025 | Photo: PSM
The Maldives Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has filed a case with the police for investigation, as files submitted by the Centre Enterprises Private Limited regarding overdue payments for services they provided to state companies are suspected to be false.
Centre Enterprises Pvt Ltd filed three cases against the state, seeking payments for goods and services it claimed to have provided to government institutions between 2006 and 2008. One case involves the alleged supply of black containers to the Ministry of Environment, while the other two concern medical equipment reportedly supplied to the Department of Medical Services.
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
In response, the state has requested a court order to prevent any payments to the company, arguing about the authenticity of the documents Centre Enterprises submitted. The state has also appealed the Civil Court and High Court rulings in these cases, maintaining that it should not be held liable, as the documents fail to prove that the transactions occurred.
According to the AGO, the Auditor General’s Office had previously shared their concerns regarding this case with the AGO, at which they requested a detailed audit to be conducted. The AGO said the initial findings from the audit have since been shared with the AGO.
AGO said the audit revealed that Centre Enterprises submitted an unverified invoice to the Civil Court. It also found that some of the medical equipment the company claimed to have delivered to the Department of Medical Services had never been imported into the Maldives. As a result, the Auditor General’s Office recommended confiscating the equipment and pursuing a criminal investigation.
In light of the audit’s findings and the seriousness of the matter, the AGO has formally requested the Maldives Police Service to launch a criminal investigation without delay. The AGO announced this decision in a press release, underscoring the need for immediate legal action.
