President claims he was “not aware” cash handouts to ruling party officials came from stolen millions
Yameen claims he had thought cash hands to MPs, ruling party officials and for party activities came from gifts from friendly businesses. “The receiver, whether be President, or an MP, they are unaware that the money has been obtained via MMPRC, or illegally from the state treasury.”
25 Feb 2016, 9:00 AM
President Abdulla Yameen sought to shrug off responsibility for Maldives’ biggest ever corruption scandal claiming he was not aware that cash handouts to ruling party officials and MPs came from the stolen millions from state coffers.
Yameen said he continues to receive gifts from friendly businesses for the 2018 polls. His former deputy Ahmed Adeeb had been in charge of managing the money and had disbursed cash on his behalf “to help” MPs and for ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives’ activities.
It was only when an explosion on the presidential speedboat occurred that the president said he had discovered the money being distributed came from the state-owned Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation.
Instead of answering questions about the stolen US$80million and the extent of his complicity, the president’s comments on the island of Thoddoo on Alif Alif Atoll on Wednesday have only sharpened them.
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