MMA denies allegations made by Al-Jazeera report

Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) has denied the allegations against them in the Al-Jazeera documentary on Maldives “Stealing Paradise” which says that MMA is involved in money laundering.

The Al-Jazeera documentary says that a Malaysian businessman has arranged a system to launder large sums of money through the Central Bank of Maldives, MMA. When the undercover journalist talked to the said businessman in an assumed identity as a manager of an investor, the businessman said that large sums can be “washed” through a certain central bank in Asia. He does not name the country.

The documentary implies that a plan was made with the former Vice President Ahmed Adheeb with two other businessmen from Indonesia and Singapore to launder and clean USD 1.5 billion through the MMA. And the documentary shows alleged text messages between the former Vice President Adheeb and the Governor of MMA.

A statement issued by the MMA said that the allegations made by the documentary has no basis and completely false.

Al-Jazeera documentary ends after saying that they called the MMA Governor, Dr. Azima Adam.

MMA said that Al-Jazeera made no attempt to contact the MMA or it’s Governor and raised concerns regarding the Al-Jazeera’s claim that a call was made to get a comment from the Governor.

The Central Bank said that additions and removal from the reserve goes through a strong system and is done in the presence of the head officials of four state institutes.

The MMA said that it is impossible to add or remove funds from the national reserve without the presence of those four officials of the state.

They also said that their service is given to the Maldivian government and the financial institutes alone and the transactions accused by Al-Jazeera did not go through MMA and the USD 1.5 billion alleged in the report would not have even come to the MMA.

MMA advised to all media stations not to spread such lies that would affect the trust of the people with the financial system of the country.