The spokesperson for the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s presidential campaign, defence minister Mariya Ahmed Didi, has alleged that Dr Mohamed Muizzu, the presidential candidate from the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)/People’s National Congress (PNC) coalition, was complicit in all the misdeeds of the jailed former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.
During a regular press briefing, Mariya claimed that Muizz, in his capacity as the housing minister during President Yameen’s term, was an accessory to all of Yameen’s wrongdoings.
Former President Yameen is currently serving an 11-year jail sentence on money laundering and bribery convictions related to the leasing of Aarah in Vaavu Atoll. This case is one of many brought against him in connection to the MVR4 billion (US$259 million) corruption scandal involving the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Company (MMPRC).
“As he is an accomplice and contributed to all the wrongdoing of that era, we cannot overlook this fact and not address it. Being a member of the cabinet, he played a role in all the events that transpired from 2013 to 2018,” she stated.
Mariya emphasised that she continues to highlight these actions by Muizzu not because he posed a challenge to the MDP, but because citizens need to be reminded that he is not a new figure.