Parliament on Monday directed the Prosecutor General and the courts to fast-track efforts to identify those involved in the disappearance of diesel purchased for operations at the Malé Commercial Harbour.
The decision follows the Finance Committee’s approval of a Special Audit (2018–2020) into Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) diesel procurement, passed with 69 votes in favour.
The audit revealed MVR 28 million worth of diesel supplied by Fuel Supply Maldives (FSM) to MPL was unaccounted for. This included MVR 9.6 million for generators, MVR 18.5 million for tugboats, and MVR 127,616 for RGT cranes.
It also found 799,900 litres of diesel, valued at MVR 7.2 million, recorded as having been delivered to the Hulhumalé jetty, which was never supplied to the tugboats. Tug captains denied receiving the fuel, despite signed delivery documents. The report concluded employees from both MPL and FSM were likely involved, noting forged request forms were used to procure 1.4 million litres worth MVR 13.2 million for unauthorised purposes.
The audit highlighted procedural lapses, including verbal changes to bulk orders and a 59% rise in diesel purchases in 2020 despite reduced port operations.
The Finance Committee instructed MPL to implement the Auditor General’s recommendations, FSM to upgrade monitoring systems, and the Audit Office to review FSM’s internal controls. MPL must also install vessel tracking systems to monitor fuel deliveries beyond city limits.
