Nihan: Nasheed is behind Al-Jazeera report

Leader of the PPM Parliamentary Group, MP for the Vili-malé constituency, Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik has accused the former President Mohamed Nasheed of orchestrating the Al-Jazeera report in production on the corruption of the current government.

The social media posts advertising the investigative report titled “Stealing Paradise”, set to release later this month, say that the report would expose the government of President Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Responding to questions following a press conference held at the President’s official residence “Muliaage” today, MP Nihan said that a number of reports have been released by foreign reporters in relation to the top officials of the government and the oppositions but none of them has been proven to be credible. Nihan accused the reports of being based on speculation and no actual fact.

He said that information has been received that the report is being prepared by two journalists who entered the country on tourist VISA. Nihan accused the two journalists to be aligned with the former President Nasheed.

Leader of the PPM Parliamentary Group advised to take any evidence of embezzlement by the government or President Yameen to be taken to court.

The MP for Vilufushi constituency, Riyaz Rasheed sent out a tweet tonight regarding the Al-Jazeera report saying that any defamation against President Yameen in the report would result in legal action against the news station.

Al Jazeera in Raees Yameen ge mahchah Saabithu nuhifey dhogu Khabareh fathuraifi nama Aburu ge dhauvaa kuraanan..! pic.twitter.com/Zc3XRZwhK2

— Riyaz Rasheed (@riyaz_rasheed) August 21, 2016

An official from President’s Office spoke to Sun Media on Sunday and said that President’s Office had no knowledge Al-Jazeera made a report on corruption by the Maldivian government and said that the international media network had not contacted or approached the President’s Office for a comment regarding such a claim.

“They made no approach for an interview,” said the official.

The official, however, said that the President’s Office was aware some Al-Jazeera reporters visited the country, adding that they had even made some arrangements requested by the reporters.

Attempts to contact President Nasheed for a comment has been unsuccessful so far.