President Yameen does not have gang affiliations, Umar tells the Majlis

Home Minister Umar Naseer has retracted a July 2013 statement accusing President Abdulla Yameen of connections with the illegal drug trade and gangs.

The retraction came in response to a question by opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP Fayyaz Ismail in the People’s Majlis on Wednesday.

Naseer also accused Yameen of vote rigging, claiming he had been backed by members of gangs and drug cartels and that criminals convicted of trafficking and dealing drugs were seen wearing Yameen’s campaign caps during PPM primaries.

“Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s children were with Yameen, the largest gangsters in the country were with Yameen, all the drug cartels in the country were with Yameen, the most corrupted people were with Yameen, the whole elections committee was with Yameen and a large chunk of PPM’s parliament members gathered around Yameen,” Naseer said.