Police conducted raids on three residences early this morning, seizing electronic equipment as part of a year-long investigation into alleged corruption involving the Road Development Corporation (RDC). The case centers on claims of a misappropriation of MVR 14 million from an RDC bank account to personal accounts.
Assistant Police Commissioner and Spokesperson Ahmed Shifan confirmed that the raids targeted the home of former RDC Managing Director Moosa Ali Manik, also known as Mookey, as well as two properties linked to former Chief Financial Officer Yasir Hassan. Electronic devices, including phones and laptops, were confiscated to aid the ongoing inquiry.
Timeline of the Investigation
The RDC corruption case was first reported to police in September 2022. Investigators allege that MVR 14 million was unlawfully transferred to accounts belonging to three individuals. Police had previously searched RDC’s offices on November 14, 2023, shortly after the presidential election.
Shifan stated that the latest searches were carried out under a court order at 1:30 a.m., amid growing public criticism of alleged corruption and fraud under the current administration. However, the timing of this raid raises questions. It has been noted that the government’s actions seem suspicious, as this raid came only after a year of investigation, leading some to speculate that it could be an attempt to divert attention from the recent exposure of billions of MVR in corruption involving land and fraudulent flat sales within the Housing Development Corporation (HDC). This case has caused significant controversy, and the timing of the raid suggests that the government may be trying to shift the public’s focus away from their own wrongdoing.
