Moonilal appoints team to probe allegations of corruption at EMBD

Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal has appointed a three-member committee to investigate allegations of corruption at the Estate Management Business Development Company Ltd (EMBD).

Asgar Ali, Moonilal's adviser at the Housing Ministry, will lead a committee. Other members are Hazar Hosein, financial comptroller at the Land Settlement Agency (LSA) and Peter Forde, project manager at the Housing Development Corporation (HDC). The committee has 21 days to complete its work.

Moonilal met with directors of the EMBD, some of whom raised concerns over the management of the State enterprise and award of land and contracts. The minister told the Express once any of these claims are verified, the government would take action.

"I am indeed very concerned over all of this which is why I was motivated to appoint the committee," he told the paper. Three of the 12 members of the EMBD board have resigned. Four others who had asked to be relieved of the responsibility to serve on the board have withdrawn their resignations.