The people want to know what progress has been made and why the list of those who received illicit funds through the MMPRC has not been disclosed, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom said on Tuesday. He was speaking at a People’s National Front (PNF) rally.
President Mohamed Muizzu had, last year, pledged to recover the funds and bring all individuals involved to justice.
The current Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusaan, has the integrity to resign from his position should President Mohamed Muizzu order him not to investigate the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) scandal, the biggest corruption and fraud case in the recent history of the Maldives, Yameen remarked during the rally.
“I know Ihusaan’s character very well. He should be given credit where credit is due. He is not going to compromise his integrity on this sort of thing. If he wants to look into it, Muizzu cannot stop him. He has the guts,” Yameen said.
Yameen intimated that no case should be brought with a view to scapegoat him in connection with the fraud. He said that if cases continue without undue influence, he will be proven innocent through a fair trial, while expressing concern that others accused were not being investigated.
“Now the Home Minister, who commands the police, appears to be a mega minister. He wants to present himself as a very gutsy, macho individual. If the expatriate worker fees are not paid, he announces the names. [I call on him to] Announce the names of those who are hiding… When these stories are going around all over, why doesn’t the Home Ministry dare to announce the list of those who took money from the MMPRC or [former Vice President] from Adeeb?” Yameen exclaimed.
Yameen went on to ponder what secrets the list contained and whether it was a threat to national security.
“Is there a threat to national security, perhaps because the names of current President Muizzu and Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem are on it?” Yameen said.
Yameen had, at an earlier rally, stated that Muizzu would not dare look into the matter.
Thus far, only former President Yameen, former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor, and former Managing Director of MMPRC Abdulla Ziyath have received jail sentences in connection with the scandal.
Abdul Ghafoor and Ziyath were pardoned by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as his term drew to an end. The High Court quashed the sentence imposed on Yameen and, citing procedural irregularities, ordered the Criminal Court to hear the case again.
