Nasheed: Passport was confiscated to hide corruption allegations

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has said that his passport, along with those of some others was revoked by the Maldivian government to hide the allegations of corruptions made in the Al-Jazeera’s “Stealing Paradise”.

Aside from the Ex-President Nasheed, the Department of Immigration revoked the passports of the former Maldivian Vice President and Leader of Maldives United Opposition, Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, former State Minister, Akram Kamaaluddin, fugitive sentenced to life for the militant attack of 3 November 1988, Abdulla Luthfy and the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Nasmeem (Kerafy Naseem).

The former President tweeted in response to the passports being revoked by saying that it was a political move by the government to divert attention.

Confiscating my passport is another ridiculous & politically motivated attempt by President Yameen's Government (1/2)

— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) September 7, 2016

to divert attention from serious allegations of money laundering exposed in @AJEnglish's #StealingParadise documentary (2/2)

— Mohamed Nasheed (@MohamedNasheed) September 7, 2016

Department of Immigration said that anyone who is wanted by authorities regarding enforcement of criminal convictions or ongoing investigations or anyone who refuses to return back to Maldives despite orders by the authorities are not allowed to live in another country holding a Maldivian passport.

Maldives Immigration said that the decision to revoke their passports has been conferred to both local and international authorities. It said that those with the revoked passports who wished to return back to Maldives can inform it from Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Immigration said that the recent increase in such individuals was resulting in difficulties in implementation of criminal justice.