Yameen calls out govt. for not investigating past corruption cases

Former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom has called out the current administration for their failure to investigate major corruption cases that have unfolded in the past.

Yameen, who served as Maldivian leader from 2013-2018, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for money laundering and bribery charges in connection to the sale of V. Aarah on December 26, 2022.

He was transferred to home confinement a day after PPM-PNC coalition’s triumph in September’s presidential election. The terms of his home confinement as seriously eased later on.

Despite a ban on engaging in political activities, Yameen was yet again captured attending an event of the new political party he is forming, People’s National Front (PNF) on Saturday night. Although he did not speak at the podium, Yameen targeted questions at some individuals who spoke at the podium. 

In this regard, Yameen said declaring ‘zero tolerance’ for corruption and intent to address such cases alone is insufficient. On the contrary, he said the people, responsible for major incidents that have unfolded, should be held accountable.

“Our current president is talking about corruption. However, even now, we are seeing many such cases go unattended,” Yameen said, expressing concern over the failure to investigate corruption cases that have unfolded in the past.

The former president also questioned whether it is only corruption that is of concern to political leaders.

On this note, he said 2018’s presidential election had been “stolen”, despite which no one has expressed concern over the matter. He emphasized that the nation’s future cannot be secured without probing such cases.

“This is not something that personally affects me anymore. However, PPM-PNC leaders have also described 2018’s presidential election as a “stolen election”. There is no talking about this now,” he said.

Speaking further, Yameen said the incidents that have unfolded in former administrations should not be investigated just for the purpose of punishing someone but also to shape a better future, guided by the past.

He then raised the question as to whether the current administration possessed the guts to investigate incidents that have unfolded during former administrations.