Police start investigating Ilham’s “hot water” comment

Maldives Police Service has launched an investigation into a comment made by Dhangethi MP Ilham Ahmed during a Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) rally in 2017.

During the rally in question, the then PPM lawmaker Ilham commented “vote, if you want to touch hot water” referring to the impeachment petition against Speaker of People’s Majlis, Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed.

Ilham’s attorney, Noor al-Salaam Aboobakr reported to “Sun” this Monday that police are investigating Ilham on allegations he threatened PPM lawmakers with the comment.

Noor said Ilham provided his statement to the police regarding the comment last week.

Ilham said in the statement that he did not mean “hot water” literally, but figuratively, in reference to possible disciplinary action if PPM lawmakers violated its whip-line and voted to impeach Speaker Maseeh.

He denied threatening any lawmaker.

Attorney Noor said he believed the case was being investigated under the assumption all lawmakers who voted against Maseeh’s impeachment in 2017 did so under coercion.

Ilham made the comment during a PPM rally in March 22, 2017.

“Vote, if you want to touch hot water. Even those among us, vote, if you want to touch hot water. And any outsider who wants to touch this vote must do so if they want to touch hot water. The hot water will spill on your feet,” said Ilham, during the 2017 rally.

The case was filed against Ilham by Nolhivaram MP Hussain Areef.