Falah tells Yameen to back Muizzu or face return to prison

People’s National Congress (PNC) parliamentary group leader Ibrahim Falah said on Saturday that former president Abdulla Yameen faced a choice between helping President Mohamed Muizzu’s government remain in power and returning to Maafushi Prison.

Speaking at a PNC gathering, the Inguraidhoo MP urged Yameen to consider whether his interests would be better served by the government winning another term in 2028 or the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) returning to power.

“There are two options. One is whether you want to stay at home. The other is whether you want to return to Maafushi, to where you were before,” Falah said.

“I do not think you would want to go to Maafushi.”

Yameen is currently free after the High Court overturned his conviction in the Aarah case and ordered a retrial. Proceedings in that case remain ongoing.

Falah’s speech focused on criticism of Yameen and praise for Muizzu. He accused Yameen’s administration of mistreating political leaders and causing hardship for the public.

He also alleged that Yameen had resorted to sorcery after losing the 2018 presidential election in an attempt to prevent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih from taking his oath of office.

Turning to the next election, Falah claimed an MDP government would make prison conditions difficult for Yameen. He then said the current home minister would keep the facility well maintained, including its air conditioning.

“I think Yameen would generally want the air conditioning set at 22 degrees,” he said. “So you must not make a mistake, Yameen.”

Falah urged the former president to spend time alone on an uninhabited island to consider his options. He had also recently expressed regret that Yameen had been allowed to stay at home.

Yameen was transferred home while serving an 11-year prison sentence in a case linked to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation corruption scandal, following Muizzu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election. Yameen had supported Muizzu in that election.

The Criminal Court imposed the sentence in the Aarah case on 25 December 2022. The High Court subsequently overturned the ruling and ordered the case to be heard again.

Yameen recently announced that he would contest the 2028 presidential election. He has said that, despite his criticism of Muizzu’s conduct, he does not believe the president would imprison him to prevent him from running.