The government has fined 19 companies that violated the rules set to take Maldivians to Umrah pilgrimage.
The Islamic Ministry said that the 19 companies were fined MVR 5,000 depending on the size of their violations.
It said it had also identified a company that had taken dollars from the MMA under the pretense of showing an official license issued by the ministry to take people for Umrah.
The Ministry said that if the company is proven guilty, the company will be fined MVR 30,000, the license will be withheld and the matter will be referred to the police for investigation.
The Islamic Ministry said the company was accused of submitting fake documents.
The Islamic Ministry further said that action will be taken against all companies that do not comply with the gazetted rules for taking people for Umrah.
Recently a Hajj and Umrah group was fined MVR 100, 000 after a group of pilgrims were left abandoned at Saudi Arabia.
