Ex-President Yameen: Will find real thieves who used MMPRC corruption funds

Former President and leader of the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) on Saturday said that the reals thieves involved in the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC) were within the Maldives Democratic Party (MDP) coalition.

Speaking at a gathering held in Ihavandhoo, the former president went on to say that if he gets elected again, he will show the people who the real thieves, are and would catch them, adding that this was his main reason for contesting in the elections.

“If given the opportunity, I want to show the Maldivian people who the real thieves are and who committed corruption. It is a right of the Maldivian people; they have a right to know. Can call thief at people. But once investigated, the real thieves come out.”

Yameen claimed that those who benefit from one of the biggest corruption scandals in the country were sitting members of the Parliament, representing MDP.

Accusing President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to have used funds from MMPRC corruption, he said that if a president is faced with such accusations, in other countries the first thing done is resign from the post. He added President Solih could not take up even that much responsibility.

“In a democracy, such responsibility will be taken. Or if such an accusation comes at that person, an investigation must be done through the Police. Even now the accusations against the president is to be seen. This is what the youngest child is talking about today.”

Yameen further claimed that while President Solih was the leader of the MDP Parliamentary group, the tourism minister at the time Ahmed Adeeb gained the party's votes with MMPRC money. He added that MDP members were not voting for the benefit of people then, but because they were getting money.

Adeeb went from Tourism Minister to Vice President by amending the law through the Parliament to make him eligible for the post. The amendment at the time lowered the eligibility age from 35 to 30 years. Members of the MDP also voted in favor of this change.

In addition to this, MDP members also voted at the time to make changes to allow international investors to own land in Maldives for 99 years.

Some allege that the votes MPD members cast in favor of these two amendments were due to the money they received from the MMPRC corruption.