Saturday
27th Apr 2024
Dhivehi Edition
Moosa Ali Manik (Mookey)
RDC's MD Mookey and CFO Yasir Hassan Face Investigation in Major Embezzlement Scandal
Mookey and Yasir.
Male', Maldives - A major embezzlement case has rocked the Maldives with allegations of high-profile misconduct within the Road Development Corporation (RDC). Maldives Police Service, in collaboration with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Maldives Monetary Authority, has launched a joint investigation into the alleged financial misappropriation by Moosa Ali Manik, also known as Mookey, and Yasir Hassan, the CFO of the company.
The duo is suspected of illicitly transferring over MVR 13.8 million from the company's bank account directly to Yasir's personal account. Despite the sizable sum involved, there is no available explanation or documentation regarding the use of these funds. The relationship between the two executives is not merely professional, with recent events revealing a familial connection, as Yasir married Mookey’s younger sister.
This high-profile investigation began three months ago under the scrutiny of the FIU, which later referred the case to the police for a criminal probe. According to an anonymous police officer involved in the investigation, this incident is being treated as a case of embezzlement and money laundering.
However, the case takes on further political undertones as senior government officials, including the Chairperson of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail, are reportedly attempting to obstruct the investigation.
Mookey has publicly stated that the transferred funds were used for legitimate company expenses, yet has failed to produce any evidence supporting his claim. This is not Mookey’s first brush with allegations of corruption, and his close ties with President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih, whom he vocally supports, have been brought into question as a result.
Despite ongoing investigations, no punitive measures have been implemented against Mookey, which has raised eyebrows within the community, given the severity of the charges. Under normal circumstances, the Privatization and Corporatization Board typically intervenes in such cases, however, no action has been taken thus far.
The RDC, a state-owned enterprise, has been flagged in the past for operational inefficiencies, and this scandal only adds to the list of its controversies.