Dr. Jameel: I use another passport now

Leader of Maldives United Opposition, former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed has declared that he uses a different passport now, after Maldivian Immigration announced last Wednesday that it had revoked the passports of five Maldivian nationals – including him.

Commenting on the Al-Jazeera documentary ‘Stealing Paradise’ which came out on Wednesday morning, Jameel said that he did not expect President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom to be arrested and an international criminal investigation carried out on him.

He criticized the independent institutions of Maldives, and said that silence and fear led to the gates of stealing and embezzlement.

Spokesperson for President’s Office, Ibrahim Muaz Ali had denied the allegations made in ‘Stealing Paradise’, and said that the Al-Jazeera investigative team which produced the documentary did not have any proof to back it.

Maldives Immigration announced 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.

List of individuals who had their passports revoked are:

• Mohamed Nasheed, Former Maldivian President

• Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, Former Maldivian Vice President and Leader of Maldives United Opposition

• Akram Kamaaluddin, Former State Minister

• Abdulla Luthfy, fugitive sentenced to life for the November 3, 1988 militant attack

Police have issued summons for Jameel and Akram Kamaaluddin, asking that they present themselves at the police headquarters for questioning regarding allegations against them, so that they have the opportunity to speak in their defense.

An anonymous witness had testified in court that the plot to prepare a warrant for Yameen’s arrest was led by Jameel, and that Akram Kamaaluddin was involved as well.

Former Prosecutor General, Muhthaaz Muhsin and Chief Magistrate of A. Dh. Maamingili Court, Ahmed Nihan have been sentenced to 17 years in prison over the plot. But Jameel and Akram are living in self-imposed exile in the UK, along with Nasheed.