Adeeb Files Part 2: the parliament that money bought

The messages from June to October 2014 revealed a parliament for sale. Of the 85 MPs in the 18th People's Majlis (2014 to 2019), at least 18 are directly implicated – casually requesting everything from motorcycle money to government jobs for supporters. Individual MPs sought sums ranging from MVR 50,000 (US$ 3,240) for school fees to US$ 70,000 for "business debts." One MP asked for MVR 250,000. Another needed US$ 2,000 for a London trip.

What MPs traded for this money were their votes on crucial legislation, their silence on corruption investigations, and their cooperation in removing the auditor general who exposed the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation as a money laundering vehicle. The messages show MPs from the then-ruling Progressive Party of Maldives coordinating with Adeeb on strategy whilst opposition Maldivian Democratic Party MPs secretly negotiated for "free whips" on critical votes – including the appointment of a prosecutor general one MP explicitly called "Adeeb's boy."

Many of these MPs remain in power today. The current speaker of parliament allegedly sought help getting someone released from custody. A current minister at the President's Office sought jobs for constituents. The mayor of Addu City begged for loans while sharing his party's internal deliberations.

There was one message from former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who was then MP for Hinnavaru and the parliamentary group leader of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party. "Yes Adheeb. I have a meeting 10 o'clock tonight. Will let u know after that," he wrote on July 17, 2014.

In one of his final acts in office, Solih pardoned Adeeb in November 2023.

After covering Adeeb's inner circle of confidants who distributed the stolen millions in part one, we focus on the lawmakers from both major parties who lined up with their hands out.

On August 24, 2014, the contact saved as "Mundhu Mom" – referring to her son Mohamed Hussain Shareef 'Mundhu,' who was then a minister at the President's Office – messaged Adeeb to clarify whether resorts located within special economic zones would qualify for tax exemptions and other concessions. 

In a message sent to a group chat following the disappearance of Maldives Independent journalist Ahmed Rilwan in August 2014, Asma suggested that PPM MPs should urge the public to assist with search efforts undertaken by his friends and family. "We need to be concerned about this. This is a Maldivian child, too," she wrote. 

On August 12, 2014, Arif asked Adeeb to secure a job for a constituent from Haa Alif Vashafaru as a ramp services assistant at the Maldives Airports Company Ltd.

13 text messages, 118 messages from online platforms  

On June 14, 2014, the former national football team star sought advice from Adeeb about whether US$ 2,000 would be enough for a six-day trip to London. After Adeeb asked him how much he needed, Tom messaged on the following day to say that he "got it" and thanked the minister. 

Tom also messaged to discuss two vacancies on the Elections Commission, ask about uninhabited islands available for resort development, and regularly sought guidance on his conduct in parliament.

In one instance, the PPM MP sought MVR 200,000 to pay salaries for the Mahibadhoo Sports Club in his constituency and attempted to arrange co-sponsorship from the state-owned Maldives Industrial Fisheries Company. 

On August 20, 2014, Tom warned Adeeb that amendments proposed by Jumhooree Party MP Riyaz Rasheed to the decentralisation law would “damage the government” and suggested that it could have been packaged with other changes to draw attention away from controversial provisions concerning council authority over land use. 

Throughout the period, Didi informed Adeeb about the PPM's parliamentary group decisions. "PG has decided on red," he messaged Adeeb on August 11, 2014. On September 18, 2014, Didi texted Adeeb an estimated price from the national airline Maldivian of MVR 207,400, citing "Haris" as saying that it was the lowest price. 

On July 8, 2014, Didi asked Adeeb to arrange a job for Aminath Eana as a reservation and ticketing officer trainee at Maldivian's Gan office in Addu City. 

On July 23, 2014, Fazaad thanked Adeeb for a "gift" he received from the PPM parliamentary group leader.  

From August 19 to September 18, 2014, he repeatedly messaged Adeeb asking for a loan.  messages asking to arrange a loan. "Im ready to repay to u or as u wish. Plz help me,” he wrote.

The contact saved as ‘Ar Raheem’ asked Adeeb for assistance on September 9, 2014 to transfer a detainee to house arrest.  

A message on July 30, 2014, which appeared to be from a group chat, advocated for raising the monthly salary for parliamentarians: “Otherwise let’s agree to serve the people voluntarily / without pay these 5 years! I am ready.”

A message sent on June 22, 2014 reads: “Job done ... Let's meet.” Minutes later, Adeeb responded: “Ok will call tonight” 

Mahloof – who would go on to join the opposition and become youth and sports minister during the MDP government – faced charges over an alleged US$ 33,000 bribe from Adeeb to vote in favour of the special economic zones bill in August 2014. However, the bribery charges were withdrawn in April 2023. 

The messages showed Mahloof requesting meetings with Adeeb on several occasions in July and August 2014. In a message on August 30, he lobbied Adeeb for the appointment of an individual to the Police Integrity Commission, listing his qualifications and experience. 

On July 30, 2014,  Mahloof informed Adeeb about the evacuation of Israeli tourists from Kaafu Thulusdhoo following unrest, “if an individual among the Israeli tourists was killed that night? What would be the impact?” 

The Maldives Development Alliance lawmaker, whose party was in the ruling coalition at the time, warned Adeeb on July 11, 2014 that the omission of 20 hectares from the Kudahuvadhoo land reclamation project could spark unrest of the island. He urged the tourism minister to ensure that Boskalis completes the reclamation and asked for updates over the next week.  

In early September 2014, he complained about Adeeb's failure to arrange a requested meeting on an "urgent matter" despite multiple requests for days.

The majority leader routinely updated Adeeb about parliamentary affairs. On June 8, 2014, he sought MVR 200,000 to set up a secretariat for the the PPM parliamentary group, including rent for office and salary for a secretary. 

On September 30, 2014, Nihan messaged about creating a website called Karasheeb to “attack Jangiya,” referring to Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim, a close confidant of president Yameen and rumoured rival of Adeeb with the ruling coalition. Nihan told Adeeb that the site was "its in developing stage" and that it would cover "all his corruptions."

Rifau asked for regular “top ups” from Adeeb. On July 16, 2014 he asked for MVR 50,000 to buy a motorcycle. Five days later, he messaged: “please arrange 100k between 12 n 1pm..thnx.” 

In late August, he asked for an MVR 50,000 "top up" before the bank closes on Thursday. On September 12, 2014, he asked for MVR 50,000 in cash again by the following night, telling Adeeb that he had run out of his entire salary and needed the money to pay rent and school fees for his children. Rifau sent the same message on 13th, 15th and 16th as well. 

Similar to other MPs, he asked Adeeb to arrange jobs, including the appointment of his campaign manager to the board of the government-run Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital. 

In several messages sent between June 9 to June 15, 2014, "Mode" asked Adeeb to arrange jobs for “his people” at vacant posts at the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the board of the Local Government Authority. 

“I did not hand over the CVs because we cannot store them,” he messaged on June 15.

On August 10, he lobbied for the appointment of an individual to the ACC, describing the person as "an accounting graduate with 5 yrs of audit experience" and as someone who "worked really hard in my campaign and in presidential election for you." As the candidate was "a strong believer in you and your policies," the MP assured Adeeb that he "will not be disappointed." 

In a midnight message on July 10, Ismail advised Adeeb that "buying MPs" wasn't enough as they needed to be kept happy as well. Three days later, he informed Adeeb about the opposition MDP's parliamentary group approving a free whip on an unspecified vote, citing MP Abdul Gafoor Moosa. Messages indicate Adeeb, Ismail and some others met on July 18, 2014. 

On the following day, Ismail asked Adeeb how to proceed after informing him of an MVR 500,000 proposed by an unspecified group during a meeting. 

On September 1, 2014, Ismail asked Adeeb to arrange the lease of Raa Maamunagau and Raa Huaravalhi to his boss “Mr A.Mansoor," to which Adeeb responded that both islands had been leased. He then asksed Adeeb to "give a place that’s not leased bro.” 

Ismail repeatedly asked for a free resort trip with family to celebrate the passage of the SEZ bill. 

In March 2016, Ismail famously claimed to have carried "sacks of money" to opposition lawmakers. He later stood by the apparent admission of bribery.

On June 17, 2014, Gadir asked for Adeeb's help to secure the release of a Bangladeshi detained in Hulhumalé. On the same day, he messaged about a family member who works at the Milandhoo powerhouse being issued a warning for dismissal. The MP told Adeeb he would be "very sad" if the relative was to be sacked. 

On August 28, Gadir asked Adeeb to transfer another family member from the Galolhu police station to the Milandhoo police station. Gadir often addressed Adeeb as “dear” in the texts. 

Messages from July indicated efforts to raise funds to repay Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim. The amount owed was unclear. “How much total bro. Will give u," Adeeb responded within a minute to the request.

In a message on July 29, Gadir told Adeeb that he was struggling financially, to which Adeeb responded with an assurance to meet on August 2 upon his return from Singapore. 

On September 3, he asked Adeeb for MVR 200,000. “Pls dear answer me v urgent” another message later on September 7, 2014 read. 

On July 7, 2014, Nizar – now mayor of Addu City – asked Adeeb for MVR 250,000 to settle debts incurred during his campaign. “Still struggling with campaign tightness. For the time being this may be enough. Around 450k is there as debts," he wrote. 

The following day Nizar pleaded for a meeting: “With your present busy schedule I know it's difficult to get time. Can you kindly think of my request as I am extremely in trouble. Not much sources for funds I asked for your help. Don't need the amount I have request now. Even half would be OK. I assure you that I will help you by any means when needed. Also please be reminded that it's a loan to be paid back”

Two days later, he began to share the MDP parliamentary group’s deliberations on the nomination of Muhuthaz Muhusin for Prosecutor General. The opposition's stance is vote against Muhuthaz as he was "Adeeb’s boy," Nizar messaged. He appears to have met Adeeb on July 17, 2014 to discuss the vote. 

Two days later, Nizar told Adeeb that the MDP parliamentary group would approve an open whip on Muhuthaz's confirmation vote. Nizar later told Adeeb that he managed to get the votes of all MPs representing Addu save one, which he blamed on former president Mohamed Nasheed's influence. 

“I Was under pressure even from constituency to go for red. Convinced them I was voting for Muhuthaaz to avoid political prosecutions. Please try to do everything to avoid any chaos with aforesaid prosecutions," he wrote. 

The pleas for money continued with messages on July 26 where he asked for a loan to settle an old business debt worth US$ 50,000 with an Indian company called MM Exports, who he said was threatening to sue. Nizar later asked Adeeb to arrange US$ 70,000.

The deputy speaker – who would later be expelled from the MDP and go on to join the PPM – also informed Adeeb about MDP parliamentary group meetings ahead of the vote on approving Muhuthaz as the new prosecutor general. 

“Maumoon RED muhthaaz FREE. my proposition passed," he wrote on July 20, 2014, referring to the approval of his proposal to vote against lawyer Maumoon Hameed and to allow a free whip on Muhuthaz. 

A few days later, Reeko asked Adeeb to “check if the Thilafushi matter can be expedited.” It appeared to be a reference to a project awarded to his Heavy Load company for land reclamation. The Thilafushi Corporation Ltd incurred MVR650 million (US$42 million) worth of losses as a result of Heavy Load's failure to reclaim 152 hectares of land.