Yameen alleges selective justice in corruption enforcement
Yameen said the legal system does not reach political leaders whom he described as corrupt.
Former president Abdulla Yameen on Thursday said that the law is not applied equally in the Maldives and alleged that those involved in large-scale theft are not held accountable.
Yameen made the remarks during a weekly political meeting held on Thursday night at the office of the People’s National Front at his residence. The meeting discussed alleged corruption within the Malé City Council and the Maldivian Democratic Party primary election won by the incumbent Malé mayor, Adam Azim.
Yameen said the legal system does not reach political leaders whom he described as corrupt and claimed that the criminal justice system is applied mainly to minor offenders.
Referring to past cases, Yameen said former vice president Ahmed Adeeb and former managing director of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation, Abdulla Ziyath, were both sentenced to house arrest and later pardoned at the end of the administration of former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
He said that in recent administrations, those convicted of lesser offences serve their sentences, while those accused of large-scale financial crimes receive protection instead of punishment. Yameen said he believed he should have completed his own sentence in full, while others accused of major offences were released earlier.
In remarks to party supporters, Yameen alleged that public support and votes are often given to politicians involved in corruption, claiming that misappropriated funds are distributed for political gain. He said individuals who earn money lawfully do not have similar resources to mobilise support.
Commenting on the MMPRC corruption case, Yameen said political parties had also become involved in corruption. He said that political activity in the Maldives had previously involved stronger opposition scrutiny and public accountability, but added that such opposition activity is now limited.
