Adeeb accused of trying to ‘blast’ Auditor General’s Office

Al-Jazeera, in their investigative documentary ‘Stealing Paradise’, alleges that former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor ordered an explosion on Auditor General’s Office, after former AG Niyaz Ibrahim uncovered corruption and embezzlement within the Maldivian government.

Al-Jazeera said that ‘Stealing Paradise’ was based on secret recording and information collected from three of Adeeb’s phones.

The Al-Jazeera investigative team said that information from the three phones were copied and given to them by source after Adeeb gave his three phones to an ally with orders to smuggle them out of the country before his arrest.

The Auditor General’s Office had uncovered embezzlement of State funds involving at least 59 islands which were leased for tourism. And ex-AG Niyaz said in the interview for ‘Stealing Paradise’ that Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom had ignored the audit report which uncovered the scandal when he submitted it to him.

“When I personally informed him, he basically ignored everything. They just changed the law and then the Auditor General was removed from office. It was me,” said Niyaz.

He said that he had went ahead and published the report, following which him and eleven members of his family received death threats.

‘Stealing Paradise’ shows alleged text messages exchanged between Adeeb and corrupt officials within the Maldives Police Service.

Adeeb allegedly exchanged messages with police officers on August 17, 2014 and August 22, 2014.

It started with Adeeb allegedly saying “u guys need to focus on this auditor general,” to which Abdulla Did from Police Special Ops replied “no worries,” and the Adeeb allegedly suggested

“Maybe we need to light up his office as he is continuously making trouble for us”.

A Saif Hussain from Police Special Ops allegedly texted Adeeb “We checked that place. Lots of camera everywhere” to which Adeeb replied “Ok but need to blast it at any cost…” which was met with “sure.lets do it.”

“Sun” wasn’t able to reach through to police for a comment regarding the allegations.

“Oh my god! These guys were trying to blast the office with 200 staff. Oh my god. Crazy,” said Niyaz, when he was shown the messaged by Al-Jazeera’s investigative team.

“State sponsored terrorism against its own people and institutions. How could they do this?” asked Niyaz, who then said that he had never imagined the government to be so ‘dirty’.

Niyaz had released the audit report uncovering the embezzlement on October 31, 2014, before he was removed from the post.

Adeeb has denied the accusations made by Al-Jazeera.