Authorities freeze over MVR 100M in ex-President Yameen’s bank accounts

A freeze has been put in place on over MVR 100 million in former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s bank accounts, says Maldives Police Service.

Police are investigating Yameen for alleged illegal financial transactions during his 5-year presidency.

He was questioned in connection with the allegation last Saturday afternoon.

Police, in a statement issued following Yameen’s interrogation, said the authority has investigated Yameen’s accounts in local banks it has been able to identify so far, and has noticed a pattern of huge amounts of money deposited to and transferred from his bank accounts during his presidency.

The authority said it has ordered a freeze on the contents of his MVR and USD bank accounts – which amounts to over MVR 100 million.

Police said Yameen answered all questions by investigators during the interrogation session on Saturday afternoon, and has promised to continue cooperating with the investigators.

Yameen was escorted to the police headquarters for questioning on Saturday by his attorney, the Deputy Leader of PPM and former Attorney General Aishath Azima Shakoor.

Speaking to press outside the police headquarters, Yameen said the investigators asked him three questions regarding the money in his bank accounts.

“The money which went in and out of the accounts is visible. If there is any suspicious activity, it should have been already investigated by agencies. They have not been able to establish that a specific transaction or transactions were illegal,” said Yameen.

Yameen said he wasn’t asked about the origin of the deposits. But that he was ready to answer if asked by investigators.

Meanwhile, his attorney Aishath Azima Shakoor said one specific bank account, which may possibly be the main focus of interest, has been open since 2013 and used for campaign work. She said the investigators failed to establish a reason why transactions made from the account should be deemed illegal.