Muizzu vows to recover MMPRC graft scandal funds
Despite promising to recover lost funds, his term ended without any money being recovered.
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By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
President-elect Dr Mohamed Muizzu said on Thursday that it is necessary to recover the billions of Rufiyaa lost to the state from the MMPRC corruption scandal during former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's administration.
Muizzu made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Atoll Times' sister publication Dhauru on Thursday.
"I believe that what needs to be done is [to recover the money from the MMPRC scam. It is, state money right. A lot of legal work has been done. I will work on that," he said.
The scandal involved leasing lagoons and islands to build resorts during the first PPM government. The recovery of the money was a promise made by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih during his 2018 presidential campaign. However, his five years have ended without any money being recovered.
Muizzu assured that his government would try to recover the money. He also assured that his government would not create a 'second MMPRC'.
At the time of the scandal, Muizzu was the then government’s housing minister. When asked about the cause of the incident, he said he did not know.
"Honestly [to tell the truth], when I worked [in Yameen's cabinet], I focused very much on the responsibility assigned to me. Of course I was a cabinet minister, but I worked within my portfolio. I didn't go and check what others did."
When asked what steps he would take to prevent such a thing from happening in Muizzu's government, he said:
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He will ensure that he establishes a clean government
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He will set up a separate system to check for any corruption in a government office
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If such a thing happens, we will take action in the first instance
