Mohamed Gasam

Mohamed Gasam
މުޙައްމަދު ގަސަމް
Member of the People's Majlis
In office
28 May 2009 – 28 May 2014
ConstituencyG.Dh. Thinadhoo
Personal details
PartyMaldivian Democratic Party
SpouseShehezaadha Abdul Azeez
Children4
OccupationPolitician · Corporate executive
Known forFormer MP; Former Managing Director of Fuel Supplies Maldives

Mohamed Gasam (Dhivehi: މުޙައްމަދު ގަސަމް), sometimes anglicised as Qasam, is a Maldivian politician and corporate executive. He represented G.Dh. Thinadhoo in the People’s Majlis as a member of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and later served as managing director of Fuel Supplies Maldives (FSM), a subsidiary of the State Trading Organization (STO).

Early life

Gasam was born in Thinadhoo, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, into a family with deep roots in Maldivian public life and commerce.

He is the grandson of Saeed Moosa, known locally as Saeed Katheeb, and the great-grandson of Hirihamaidhi Kaleyfaanu (Moosa Manikfaanu), a prominent merchant and civic leader who played a leading role in the economic and social development of Thinadhoo during the mid-20th century.

Gasam is also a cousin of Mohamed Latheef, cofounder of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and a leading figure in the country’s democratic reform movement. He is also a cousin of Abdul Samad Abdulla, a Maldivian physician, diplomat, and politician, widely regarded as one of the first medical doctors in the Maldives.

Political career

Role in the democracy movement

During the mid-2000s, Gasam played a prominent role in mobilising support within Thinadhoo as part of the nationwide movement for democracy that opposed President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s autocratic rule.

According to a report by the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), he was among several Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) activists detained in Thinadhoo in 2006 and subjected to pepper-spray while in custody—an incident cited internationally as part of the regime’s repression of pro-democracy demonstrators.[1]

Working alongside reform-minded activists, he helped galvanise local backing for the democratic cause, which contributed to the broader struggle that culminated in the adoption of the Maldives’ 2008 Constitution and the country’s first multiparty presidential elections.[2]

Parliamentary tenure

Gasam served as the Member of the People's Majlis for G.Dh. Thinadhoo following the 2009 parliamentary elections representing the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) during the 17th People’s Majlis.[3][4]

In 2013, when the Majlis accepted the Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Bill submitted by MP Rozaina Adam, Gasam was appointed to the 11-member ad hoc review committee formed to examine it.[5]

Earlier, an election-monitoring report recorded his presence at a demonstration at Kaadedhdhoo Airport during local-election tensions in January 2011.[6]

2010 leaked-letters controversy

In July 2010, local media published letters signed by several MDP MPs, including Gasam, alleging that opposition figures offered inducements to defect to the Jumhooree Party.

The allegations were publicised in press reports but never adjudicated in court.

2012 protests and court case

Gasam was arrested on 30 July 2012 during an MDP protest, listed among detained MPs.[7]

He was also detained and allegedly beaten during the 8 February 2012 protest crackdown near the Maldives Monetary Authority, documented by rights observers.[8]

Two police officers were charged in 2014 with assaulting him during those events,[9] and acquitted in 2016–2017 for lack of sufficient evidence.[10]

Role at Fuel Supplies Maldives (2019–2023)

Appointment and board service

Gasam was appointed managing director of Fuel Supplies Maldives on 4 February 2019,[11][12] succeeding his predecessor following a board reshuffle. According to the STO Corporate Governance Report 2023, he was removed as managing director on 30 November 2023.[13]

Achievements and initiatives

  • Introduced Ooredoo mFaisaa digital-wallet payments at FSM petrol stations in November 2022, enabling mobile transactions for fuel purchases nationwide.[14]
  • Oversaw internal reforms and staff suspensions during the Maldives Ports Limited diesel-theft investigation (2018–2024). Independent audits confirmed the loss of approximately 2.8 million litres of diesel valued at MVR 28 million and implicated MPL and FSM staff.[15][16][17]
  • Prosecutors later charged three individuals—two from MPL and one from FSM—in connection with the theft.[18]
  • In August 2025, the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee ordered measures to recover the missing funds and improve fuel-procurement controls.[19][20]
  • Supervised the construction and commissioning of new FSM fuel barges. In May 2023, two were detained in Eritrea; Gasam confirmed crew safety and said the matter was being resolved diplomatically.[21]
  • Oversaw the complete rebranding of Fuel Supplies Maldives in December 2021, introducing a new logo, slogan (Fueling the Nation), and orange corporate color to replace the previous blue uniform.[22]

Under Gasam’s leadership, FSM expanded its delivery fleet, modernised retail payments, and continued to record profits as part of STO’s group portfolio.

Document-disposal controversy and removal

In October 2023, a viral video showed FSM employees destroying archived paperwork. Gasam denied wrongdoing, stating that only obsolete files were being disposed of.[23] The National Archives of the Maldives and Anti-Corruption Commission (Maldives)|Anti-Corruption Commission sought investigation,[24] and subsequent reports detailed formal complaints filed with the police and oversight warnings to state-owned enterprises.[25][26] A farewell video posted by FSM’s official Facebook page in December 2023 expressed gratitude to him for “four years of exceptional leadership.”[27]

Personal life

Gasam is married to Shehezaadha Abdul Azeez, and they have four children.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Arbitrary detention and ill-treatment of various members of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)". World Organisation Against Torture. 10 November 2006. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  2. ^ Mariyam, Zulfa (3 December 2018). "Constitutional reform in Maldives: Towards a parliamentary system of government and decentralization?". ConstitutionNet. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Efforts to hold extraordinary parliament session ongoing". Sun. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Yameen denies claim that PPM is working with MDP on holding extraordinary parliament session". Sun. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  5. ^ "Parliament accepts Bill on Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace". Sun. 10 April 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  6. ^ "Electoral Violence Monitoring, Local Council Elections 2011" (PDF). Minivan News. Maldives Democracy Network. 24 May 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Several MDP Members of Parliament arrested". Sun. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  8. ^ "MDP detainees list, February 2012 crackdown". Maldives Democracy Network. March 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Two police officers charged over attack on former MP Gasam". Sun. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  10. ^ Fathih, Mohamed Saif (26 May 2016). "Two policemen acquitted of assaulting ex-MP". Maldives Independent. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  11. ^ Ibrahim, Nafaahath (3 February 2019). "New MD appointed for FSM". The Edition. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Mr. Gasam as new MD of FSM". Corporate Maldives. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Corporate Governance Report 2023" (PDF). State Trading Organization. December 2023. p. 5. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  14. ^ Ibrahim, Nafaahath (14 November 2022). "FSM's petrol sheds begin accepting Ooredoo mFaisaa". Sun. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  15. ^ "MPL CEO: Fuel theft bigger than previously estimated MVR 8 million". Sun. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  16. ^ Mizyal, Ahmed (5 October 2023). "Audit says MPL lost oil worth MVR 28 million to fraud". Atoll Times. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  17. ^ Rehan, Mohamed (9 October 2022). "MPL fuel graft; over MVR 28.3 M diesel siphoned". The Edition. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  18. ^ Rehan, Mohamed (29 February 2024). "Charges filed against 3 in MPL, FSM corruption case". Sun. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  19. ^ "Parliament calls for swift action on MPL diesel procurement fraud". Atoll Times. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  20. ^ Shahid, Malika (11 August 2025). "MPL fuel scam: Parliament orders measures to recover losses". The Edition. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  21. ^ "Gov't working to release detained barges in Eritrea". PSM News. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  22. ^ "FSM Rebrands its Logo and Company Color". MV+. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
  23. ^ "Gasam defends himself, claims no undue benefits received". Edition.mv. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  24. ^ "FSM chief denies graft allegations amid doc disposal row". Atoll Times. 8 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  25. ^ "National Archives to file case with Police against FSM". Archive.mv. October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  26. ^ "PCB warns public companies over destroying paperwork". Edition.mv. October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  27. ^ "FSM expresses gratitude to Mohamed Gasam for four years of leadership". Fuel Supplies Maldives (Facebook). December 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
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