Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has revealed that the former government has been involved in paving ways for corrupt profits for Strada Pvt Ltd, who owns the Newport franchise.

According to ACC, the revision of the agreement regarding the lease of bridge viewing platform to Strada Pvt Ltd enabled the company to gain profits through corruption.

A statement issued by ACC following their probe into damages payout to Newport to empty the area, the commission noted that Strada had failed t carry out several works as stipulated in the agreement that allowed them to develop the platform.

The statement highlighted that the previous government had failed to take any action against Strada upon numerous violations of the said agreement.

Apart from this, the probe revealed that Strada had not paid the lease for the land as per the agreement. While the government back then had every right to nullify the agreement on the grounds of not receiving the lease, the government had ignored it and refused to take any action regarding it.

Maldives Inland Revenue Authority has informed to the ACC that by October 29, 2018, Strada owes MVR 1,439,363 in rent and fines to the state.

In addition to this, MVR 2 million to be paid out under CSR as detailed in the revised lease agreement is also still pending.