Opposition politician and former Democrats President Imthiyaz Fahmy (Inthi) has described the ventilator scandal as “a classic example of massive corruption byprevious MDP government,” following a recent Dubai court ruling that ordered Executors General Trading to pay USD 2.4 million to the Maldivian state.
In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Imthiyaz said the case, which first came to light through the Auditor General’s report and subsequent criminal investigations, remains one of the clearest examples of large-scale corruption in public procurement.
“The Ventilator Case stands as a classic example of massive corruption by a govt, exposed through the Auditor General’s report & criminal investigations. The civil part of the case (the recovery of stolen funds) through a Dubai court further substantiated it,” Imthiyaz wrote.
Imthiyaz, who recently rejoined the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) after leading the Democrats, continues to criticize the previous MDP-led administration for alleged misuse of public funds during the pandemic, despite his return to the party.
Background: The Ventilator Scandal
The controversy dates back to April 2020, when the Ministry of Health signed an agreement with Dubai-based Executors General Trading to supply 75 ventilators for COVID-19 treatment. However, only 15 substandard units were delivered and later rejected, while the remaining ventilators were never provided.
The Maldives International Arbitration Centre had earlier ruled in favor of the government, ordering a refund for the undelivered ventilators along with compensation. When the company failed to comply, the case was escalated to a Dubai court, which on October 7, 2025, ordered the firm’s shareholders to pay USD 2.4 million within seven days or face enforcement action.
According to Attorney General Ahmed Usham, the funds being recovered include USD 2.07 million paid by the Maldives government, along with interest and arbitration costs. He reiterated that the government will take all necessary steps to enforce the judgment if the company fails to make the payment.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had previously stated that the contract was awarded without a bank guarantee and that the payment — USD 2.24 million — was released without verifying the company’s capacity to supply the ventilators, a move that raised serious red flags about procurement oversight during the pandemic.
Corruption Allegations Continue to Surface
Imthiyaz’s remarks come at a time when multiple corruption cases involving former MDP-led administrations are being investigated or reaching court verdicts.
Just recently, former Fenaka Managing Director Ahmed Saeed Mohamed — who served during the MDP government — was sentenced to four years in prison on corruption charges linked to a contract between Fenaka Corporation and Blazon Inc.
The Anti-Corruption Commission’s investigation found that the company was paid before completing contracted work and without proper verification. Saeed also faces a separate ongoing trial related to the procurement of an ice plant, while the government has ordered further probes into financial irregularities within Fenaka.
