Yameen: Everyone in government committed money laundering

Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Saturday said that if a thorough investigation is done, no one in this government will be free from money laundering charges.

Speaking at a gathering at the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), Yameen said that if a thorough investigation is done in a government of theirs, it will reveal who really commits money laundering.

“I think about how when this situation changes and we start to investigate these cases, those who really commit money laundering will be revealed. There will be no one who did not commit money laundering [in this government].”

He went on to state that the Constitution of Maldives allows people to be dragged to the Police multiple times a day even if money enters their accounts without their knowledge. He added that the opportunity should not be given to misuse the laws in this manner.

“The laws need to be made to protect people. Not to make people criminals.”

Speaking further at the gathering, the former president claimed that the government has not created employment opportunities for the youth, and expressed concern about this.

He said that the land issued to be developed to provide employment for youth remained unfinished. He added that it has been 13, 14 years since the land was issued and that the government was not doing much to develop the islands.

Moreover, Yameen said that Maldives was rich in resources and that Maldivians were capable of developing the nation. He said that bringing people from other nations to develop Maldives without granting that opportunity to the locals shows the incapacities of this government.

“Right now there are Indians paid USD 150. These are jobs that the Maldivian youth are losing, which would pay MVR 17,000 with tips.”

Furthermore, he criticized the multiple arrests of former Hoarafushi MP Mohamed Ismail, who was detained under suspicion of organizting ‘India Out’ campaign events.

Yameen also stated that the projects done by this government with India need to be thoroughly investigated.