MACL files police complaint against leasing of airport to GMR

"The Maldives Airports Company Limited has submitted a complaint to the Maldives Police Service requesting to investigate the unlawful leasing of Male International Airport on June 28, 2010 by the senior officials of the former government and former board members of the Company," the government owned firm said in a statement today.

It said that issues raised for investigation include the "unlawful proceedings" in awarding the airport to GMR; "the changing of some of the criteria of the original agreement in a manner that would bring about great losses to the state; amendments made to the agreement that decreases state fuel revenue; allowing GMR to levy USD 25 as an Airport Development Charge; not obtaining the necessary legal counsel before handing over the airport to GMR," among others.

The statement said that the country's Anti-Corruption Commission is also investigation the issue.

The move by the company comes just days after it terminated the contract signed with GMR during the regime of previous President Mohamed Nasheed.

Upset over the unilateral decision by Maldives to terminate the USD 500 million Airport project here, India had yesterday made it very clear that it would "inevitably" impact on bilateral ties given the "climate created" there which was a matter of "concern".

Terming as "extremely unfortunate" the campaign against the project, top government officials said it was made a political issue from purely a commercial one while noting that "many interests were at work" in Maldives.