Villa Foundation donates MVR 175,000 to Meedhoo Council

Sun has come to know that Villa Foundation, owned by presidential candidate of Jumhooree Party Gasim Ibrahim, donated MVR 175,000 to Dhaalu Meedhoo Council last week.

An individual from Meedhoo who spoke to Sun said that he was told by Meedhoo Council President Mohamed Shahid, that Villa Foundation had donated MVR 175,000 to Meedhoo Council.

When contacted by Sun, Shahid said that he did not wish to share any information on this issue with the media.

Details regarding this issue were shared with Sun by a member of Meedhoo Council, on the condition of anonymity.

He said that the MVR 175,000 donated by Villa Foundation followed a request by the council for assistance to establish a police station in the island.

He said that the money had been deposited in full to the council’s account.

Villa Foundation also donated some equipment required by Dhaalu Atoll School located in Meedhoo last Monday.

The principal of the school said that the items, including a 52-inch TV, five computers, a laptop and a printer, were received by the school on Monday.

He said that these items were promised by Gasim Ibrahim during a meeting with senior officials of the school, when he visited Meedhoo in July.

Villa Foundation has made several donations to schools lately, and this has been condemned by opposition parties such as the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), who have accused JP of attempting to influence the election.

JP has however said that Villa Foundation’s donations are fully independent, and not connected to Gasim in any way.