MMPRC Corruption Scandal

SOF leaks whistleblower should be ‘praised, not punished’

Transparency International and its local chapter have called on the prosecutor general to dismiss charges against a senior bank official on trial for leaking documents related to the Maldives’ biggest ever corruption scandal

Adeeb questioned over stolen funds in president’s account

Adeeb’s lawyer confirmed to The Maldives Independent that his client was questioned last week by the Anti-Corruption Commission about the large sums deposited to the president’s account at the Maldives Islamic Bank.

Government authorised to lease islands without bidding

The ruling party-controlled parliament voted through today controversial changes to the tourism law that authorises the government to lease islands for resort development without a competitive bidding process.

Gayoom urges PPM MPs to vote against government tourism bill

In a message posted on the PPM MPs’ Viber group yesterday, the former president said authorising the government to lease islands for resort development without a bidding process is contrary to the party’s founding principles.

Majlis approves diplomatic postings to UN and Europe

The People’s Majlis approved today President Abdulla Yameen’s nominees for the new Maldivian permanent representative to the UN and non-resident ambassador to the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Majlis fast-tracks bill to lease islands without bidding

Judge convicted over plot to arrest president

A magistrate has been convicted of conspiring to kidnap President Abdulla Yameen by forging a warrant for his arrest over the Maldives’ biggest corruption scandal. Ahmed Nihan, a senior judge at the Maamigili magistrate court, was sentenced to 17 years in jail.

ACC seeks prosecution of ex-vice president over US$6m corruption scandal

The anti-corruption watchdog has asked the Prosecutor General’s office to press charges against jailed former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb over a US$6 million corruption scandal exposed in an October 2014 audit report of the state-owned tourism promotion company.

MP questions composition of parliament’s graft-probe committee

The parliament’s public accounts oversight committee has launched an inquiry into corruption cases under investigation since 2008, including the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation corruption scandal.

Fugitive admits to paying Omnia Stategy on behalf of Maldives government

“Let’s say Al Capone were to come along and tell you to do something, well you would just do it. In the Maldives, the president and Vice President are like Al Capone, so I did what they said,” says Mohamed Allam Latheef, owner of a company implicated in the Maldives biggest corruption scandal.

Adeeb oversaw theft of US$5m resort lease payment, contends prosecution

The embezzlement of US$5 million paid for leasing the island of Mabinhura in Lhaviyani atoll was carried out on the instructions of detained former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb, state prosecutors told the criminal court today.

Ruling coalition MP stands by admission of bribery

Ruling coalition MP Mohamed Ismail has stood by his admission of bribing opposition lawmakers, claiming he distributed cash as a favour to detained former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb.

Judge pleads not guilty to forgery, misconduct charges

A judge detained over a “fake” warrant to arrest President Abdulla Yameen in connection with the Maldives’ biggest corruption scandal has pleaded not guilty to charges of forgery, misconduct, and abuse of authority.

Omnia paid £200,000 by company implicated in Maldives’ biggest corruption scandal

Omnia Strategy, a legal consultancy firm chaired by Cherie Blair, the wife of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, was paid more than £200,000 by a company implicated in the Maldives’ biggest corruption scandal, The Daily Mail has revealed.

President blames Nasheed for Maldives losing correspondent bank

President Abdulla Yameen has blamed former President Mohamed Nasheed’s claims of Maldivians joining extremist groups in Syria for an international bank dropping the Maldives from its client list.

Maldives opposition condemns police obstruction of anti-corruption walk

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party has said that the government’s infringement of the constitutional right to freedom of assembly shows its “lack of sincerity” in inviting political parties for talks.

MPs summoned to police after dumping fake dollars outside president’s residence

Opposition MPs Ahmed Mahloof and Eva Abdulla were summoned for questioning by the police on Friday after the pair dumped fake dollar bills with President Abdulla Yameen’s face outside his private residence on Wednesday morning.

MDP chairperson challenges Yameen to dispute evidence of corruption

Citing the transaction number, the bank account number, the name of the employee who oversaw the transaction, and the name and mobile phone number of the bank’s manager, Ali Waheed challenged Yameen to refute the allegation that US$500,000 was deposited to his account at the Maldives Islamic Bank on October 12.

Yameen vows to take action over Maldives’ biggest corruption scandal

Yameen’s remarks came after a local company implicated in the unprecedented corruption scandal said that the the missing funds were distributed to the first couple, the ruling party, and senior politicians.

Police investigating ‘fake warrant’ issued for President Yameen’s arrest

Chief Superintendent Mohamed Riyaz told the press that former President Mohamed Nasheed – who is currently in the UK on a 30-day medical leave from prison – called a senior officer of the security services and encouraged him to enforce the bogus arrest warrant.