Corruption suspected in leasing of Malé eastern waterfront
The anti-corruption watchdog is probing undue benefits provided by the previous administration.

19 May 2019, 9:00 AM
A three-year lease agreement was signed on September 22, 2016 with a six-month grace period
Strada agreed to build a bridge viewing platform with a food outlet and parking area
Strada’s proposal included installing LED walls for advertising
The agreement did not include developing Chatime but the infrastructure ministry later approved building the shop and authorised Strada to relocate a parking zone in the northernmost area to the west
Strada proposed changes to the project, including planting trees on the road and developing a cinema, a football pitch, a large parking area, and an indoor children’s play area
In exchange, Strada proposed extending the lease agreement and offered to spend MVR2 million (US$129,700) under corporate social responsibility to provide a service requested by the government
Documents showed the bridge viewing platform would be temporary but the amendments “defeated the main purpose of the agreement”
When the amended agreement was signed on April 13, 2017, Strada had not completed some of the work previously agreed upon
On March 18, 2018, the infrastructure ministry asked Strada to relocate Chatime for expansion of Malé’s outer ring road
In response, Strada proposed building a two-storey event complex with a terrace in the space designated for the cinema and lounge. Chatime would be relocated to the ground floor with a parking area, Strada proposed
The infrastructure ministry approved the proposal and amended the agreement accordingly
Strada was not regularly paying rent when the second amendment was signed on April 18, 2018
Rent was last paid in October 2017
As of October 29, 2018, Strada owed MVR1.4 million as unpaid rent and fines, according to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority
Strada did not pay the MVR2 million agreed upon as CSR under the first amendment signed in April 2017