Ihusaan orders review of Yameen’s claims over ministry fire

Home Minister Ali Ihusaan has instructed police to examine former president Abdulla Yameen’s allegations that people close to President Mohamed Muizzu deliberately set fire to the building housing the Housing Ministry in December 2024.

Ihusaan said investigations had found that the fire originated in electrical wiring and that police had reported no evidence to support criminal allegations against anyone.

The fire on 12 December 2024 destroyed the office building, which housed three ministries, including the Housing Ministry. The ministries have since been operating temporarily from Dharubaaruge.

At People’s National Front (PNF) gatherings, Yameen alleged that the building had been set alight to conceal records relating to Muizzu’s tenure as Malé mayor. He also claimed police knew who was responsible and how closely they were connected to the president.

Responding in a social media post on Sunday night, Ihusaan said Maldivian police had investigated the fire with assistance from specialists from partner countries.

He said he had instructed police to clarify what information Yameen possessed and determine whether it warranted further investigation.

“I have asked the Maldives Police Service to clarify the information known to him in this matter and examine anything that requires further investigation,” Ihusaan said.

“I have also asked the National Integrity Commission to investigate the allegation made by the former president against the police.”

Yameen repeated his claims at a PNF gathering on Sunday night, accusing police of possessing information about the alleged arson but declining to act.

“Police know who set fire to that Green Building and who was involved. They know how close that person is to Muizzu. Police have that information. They do not want to take action,” he said.

Yameen also claimed that Muizzu would no longer be in office if investigative agencies were allowed to work independently.

He alleged that the judiciary had been used to issue a gag order following accusations against the president, that files concerning Muizzu had disappeared from the Anti-Corruption Commission, and that the building containing records from his time as mayor had burned down after questions about his conduct emerged.

Yameen warned that police would have to answer for any failure to act after a change of government.