Ilyas
Ibrahim is the current Minister of Health*, the
famous brother in law of President Gayoom. Former Velaanaage
accountant, and current SBI/STO/MTSL senior executives and his Ex
wife contributed to this report.
When President Gayoom got elected Mr. Ilyas Ibrahim had Rf1,817.23
in his bank account at State Bank of India. His wife Naasira had Rf
23,400.00 as she was designated to receive the pay check of her
brother Koli Ali Maniku (as former vice President of Maldives) from
Muli aage. I saw the bank statement. Mr. Ilyas earned Rf 575 per
month as senior secretary to Nasir and Rf560 as Under Secretary of
Audit Office.
Mr. Ilyas kept a notebook at Velaanaage where he mentioned he had Rf
12,000 paid by Mr. Haleem as a commission against the construction
of (Two Stars) current Nasandhra Hotel. It also mentioned he got Rf
10,000 from Bandhu Ahmed Saleem couple of times against construction
of ware houses for Velaanaage.
After Gayoom took the oath, Ilyas was in charge of STO/Ministry of
Defense/Police and most of Theemuge budget. Mr. Ilyas. According to
State Bank of India records had Rf 96,754.23 on November 11,
1979, just one year after Gayoom became President. Subsequent
records kept with Naasira showed he had another Rf 50,000 paid by
Ali Maniku.
During 1981 Ali Maniku invited Ilyas to Singapore and told in front
of many Maldivian staff that if he wants to become powerful and lead
the people he must become rich. "If you have no money you are
no body, You must make money first, it is up to you how you want to do
it." During the same trip Mr. Ali Maniku opened an account for Mr.
Ilyas in two banks in Singapore paying just $500 to each account
from SSTC a 100% subsidiary of MSL in Singapore.
After Mr. Ilyas's return to Maldives STO bought several vessels
including Baruzoraa an oil tanker. STO bought 2000 MTS of oil but
paid for 2500 tons every time through TT remittance and at times
through L/C mostly through Habib Bank. SSTC negotiated the L/C for
2500 tons and shipped only about 1970 MTS to STO. The extra money
plus a price difference of $50-100 per MT was credited to Mr.
Ilyas's account in Singapore. The vessel made over 10 trips a year.
This allowed Gasim to import oil and compete with STO.
According to Chung Kiaw Bank Singapore (ground floor of
International Plaza where Mr. Ali Maniku reside in Singapore) Mr.
Ilyas had $269,444.33 (Singapore Dollars) as of 31.12.1983.
STO also agreed to pay 5% commission of all imports to SSTC and in
some cases lump-sum commissions. 1.5% of these commissions were paid
back to Mr. Ilyas. These include rice, floor and sugar shipments as
well. As of 31.12.1985 SSTC owed Mr. Ilyas S$1,141.957.78.
During early 80s STO exported fish to Bangkok Thailand whereby a
commission of 2% was paid to Anglo Thai the local agent in Bangkok.
The average commission was about US$25,000.00. Besides a $100 per
ton kick back was paid by the buyers to Mr. Ali Maniku. Sales of
fish was pre approved by Mr. Ilyas annually despite fluctuation of
Tuna markets. These funds were used by MSL in Bangkok and then
credited to Mr. Ilyas's account at SSTC. As of 31.12.1986 SSTC owed
Mr. Ilyas S$ 3,988,601.02. Chung Kiaw Bank and PNB accounts exceeded
by another US$2.5 dollars.
Instead of paying this back to Mr. Ilyas, Mr. Ali Maniku agreed to
pay Mr. Ilyas 20% of Universal and transferred his shares to Mr.
Ilyas and his wife (Mr. Maniku's sister Naasira) and allowed
Universal to use SSTC flush funds for all resort developments.
Universal was allowed to use all MSL funds and SSTC cash until they
completed all their hotels, renovations without any interest. SSTC
became the "Islamic" bankers for Universal.
All payments for ship crew, provident fund and most of all, millions
of dollars owed by MSL and guaranteed by Ministry of Finance to
Islamic Bank, Kuwait Fund and Habib Bank and millions of rufiyaa
owed by MSL to MPA (until today) were delayed indefinitely to
finance Universal hotel developments. Universal had unlimited access
to SSTC/MSL funds during 1980s and benefited from freight
commissions and prior deliveries on arrival Male. Ships crew were
instructed to load Universal cargoes last and to deliver them first
on arrival Male. Items for Gasim, Champa and Bandos were loaded on
MSL vessels in such a way that their deliveries will take weeks even
after the arrival of the vessel in Male port. This created
competition to MSL as these parties refused to give in to Mr. Ilyas/Ali
Maniku and purchased vessels of their own. Mr. Ilyas was also a
director of MSL.
Currently Ministry of Finance is paying the loans of MSL amounting
to US$23 million. The last contribution from MSL to the Maldivian
government was in 1988 and later paid only $40,000 a year to send
government allocated pilgrims to Mecca. MTSL currently owes over $10
m to suppliers in Singapore and other agents in the region. The
company also owes over $3m to Iraqi people against short shipments
and claims.
During 1985, Mr. Ali Maniku suggested Mr. Ilyas to use the money in
SSTC by way of payments from Universal so that his commissions will
be used for Universal hotel developments. He also suggested to
purchase properties in Hong Kong which were registered under the
name of his two sisters including Nasreena. He also bought condos in
Bangkok, Manila, KL, Singapore and in London. According to SSTC
figures Mr. Ilyas earned over US$ 4.53 million in commissions only
during 1985.
Mr. Ilyas suggested President Gayoom use these condos during his
shopping sprees. Mr. Ilyas charged Theemuge through SSTC for his
entourage, medical expenses. SSTC debited Theemuge for using these
condos in the region of US$ 100,000 - $150,000 per visit. These
funds were remitted back from Theemuge to SSTC and thence to Mr.
Ilyas's bank accounts. Gayoom and his family used these condos
at least a dozen times a year.
During 1985-1988 SSTC received from STO over US $12,000,000.00 as
payments for their invoices. Thence came the Feliwaru renovation
project financed by International donors. 50% of these items were
purchased through SSTC and balance was given to a construction
company in Male who paid Naasira 25% commissions for the no bid
contracts. Several projects in the islands were given to this
company by Mr. Ilyas in order to receive kick backs. Mr. Ilyas also
built couple of retreats (Camp Davids) from these funds paid by STO
and refunded through SSTC commissions.
In order to hide these transactions Mr. Ilyas appointed SSTC
Director Mr. Pathmanadam as STO's auditor.
During 1987 Mr. Ali Maniku told Mr. Ilyas that he was tired of
Gayoom and his policies and it is time for him to take over. Mr. Ali
Maniku felt that he should contribute to Tamil tigers LTTE to
destroy the tourism in Sri Lanka in order for Universal to survive.
MSL vessel MV Asia Moon carried numerous arms shipments to
Tricomalee during the 90's. Mr. Pathmanadam and several other Tamil
employees at SSTC were key contributors to LTTE.
Meanwhile, Mr. Maniku invited several key ministers to Singapore and
paid for their medical expenses and shopping (later debited to SSTC)
and tried to obtain support for Mr. Ilyas. Senior government and
military officials were lobbied by Universal and the campaign for
1988 started in Singapore. However, Mr. Ali Maniku blew this up
after he tipped Mr. Fathullah Jameel who decided to investigate STO/FPID
in order to put pressure indirectly to Mr. Ilyas to abandon his ego
to take over the country.
According to very reliable sources, funds to several parliament
members were paid through Naasira's accounts depleting SSTC flush
fund of Mr. Ilyas to less than US$ 2.5 by end 1997. Former STO
staffs were in charge of these operations.
During Mr. Ilyas's exile in London, Malaysia and in Bangkok SSTC
financed all his expenses. Mr. Ilyas insisted Universal through Mr.
Ali Maniku to pay his dividend. Finally Universal paid US$
1,500,000.00 through their accounts in Germany (TUI/LTU) via travel
agents.
During his "escape" Mr. Ilyas carried over $450,000 in various
foreign currencies to London. Most of them came from local banks and
Theemuge foreign currency reserves. UK High Commission was notified
by Fathulla Jameel but reliable sources told this reporter that
Gayoom and Mr. Maniku called Mr. Adam Hassan (former employee of MSL)
in London not to take any action against Mr. Ilyas on his arrival at
Heathrow. But according to his wife, his baggage was checked at
Heathrow by UK authorities and the money was counted and released
after Mr. Adam Hassan assured UK customs that there was no problem
in the Maldives.
______________________________________________
* Ilyas Ibrahim
was give the Health Minister's portfolio in 2005 cabinet reshuffle.
Earlier he was Transport, Atolls and Trade Ministries.
