MIRA Moves to Press Charges Against Two Doctors Over Covid-19 PCR Testing Tax Fraud

News

The Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) has initiated action to press charges against Dr Ikuleel Shareef and Dr Ali Abdulla Latheef for tax fraud linked to the operations of Pioneer Maldives and Island Health Solutions, two major providers of PCR testing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

MIRA has submitted the doctors’ names to the Prosecutor General’s Office, seeking formal charges. The authority’s investigation revealed that both companies significantly underreported taxable revenue in their Income Tax statements for 2020, 2021, and 2022, including earnings from PCR testing and services provided by Pearl Medical Centre, operated by Island Health Solutions.

According to MIRA, Island Health Solutions failed to report MVR 31.9 million in taxable revenue, while Pioneer Maldives omitted MVR 102.7 million. Audits determined that the companies owe additional taxes of MVR 4.3 million and MVR 23.7 million, respectively, and have been directed to make these payments.

In addition to the company directors, Ali Fayaz, who managed the companies’ finance and tax records, is also being pursued for intentionally falsifying information.

MIRA emphasized that despite the companies’ leading role in providing PCR testing during the pandemic, the underreporting of revenue represents a serious breach of tax obligations and accountability measures are being pursued.