Whistleblower reports on POLCO submitted to parliament committee

Whistleblower reports and confidential information regarding alleged corruption at the police welfare company POLCO have been submitted to the Public Accounts Committee's sub-committee today.

Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim, who chairs the sub-committee, said discussions on the whistleblower submissions are being held behind closed doors due to the sensitive nature of the allegations. Some of the information reportedly implicates family members and close associates of senior police officials.

The sub-committee is currently investigating multiple cases involving POLCO, following corruption allegations related to the construction of police housing.

Parliament launched the investigation after concerns emerged over financial misconduct tied to the police flats project. The sub-committee has been reviewing the matter since last year.

One of the central issues involves losses of MVR 291 million incurred by POLCO due to the actions of Island Expert, the contractor responsible for building the flats. As a result, the committee has recommended that the state take over a luxury apartment block currently under construction by Island Expert in Hulhumale' Phase 2, as compensation.

An audit of the police housing initiative, known as Blues Housing and launched on 23 June 2013, estimates that the project has cost MVR 1.06 billion to date with expenses reaching MVR 1,851 per square foot, nearly double the expected cost.