Yameen's challenge to Muizzu: Set up body to probe MMPRC scandal

Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has challenged incumbent President Mohamed Muizzu to set up a special independent presidential commission to investigate the MMPRC scam that went down during Yameen's tenure.

Yameen made this challenge in response to President Muizzu's recent remarks on the MMPRC scam, at a rally held at the PNF office on Monday.

Earlier this month, President Muizzu, who was also a former minister in Yameen's cabinet, said the MMPRC case would be looked into by this government. He said action would be taken against all those involved in the scam, no matter who they were.

Responding to the allegations, Yameen said some of the people in senior positions in this government are involved in the money. Therefore, this government will not dare to look into the matter, he said.

“Then if you have the courage to do this [investigate this fraud] to the extent that no one can do it, I challenge the President... if you dare, appoint a presidential commission under the authority given by the Constitution,” he said.

“Then if the President has the courage to do this to the extent that no one can do, as he says, [to investigate the scam], then what I am saying to the President is a challenge...Make a presidential commission under your constitutional authority, if you dare,' Yameen said.

He also explained how the commission must be formed:

"It will be a matter that the people will accept by making such a commission. If you are going to look into corruption more than anybody has ever done in Maldives, I am issuing this challenge," he said.

"[President] Muizzu answer this, Muizzu answer this. Muizzu cannot look into these things, Muizzu cannot”.

Yameen said there was no chance of investigating the case without the influence of the institutions. If that opportunity will not be given, he repeated his challenge for the formation of such a commission.

In the light of information received during the investigation from former Vice President Ahmed Adheeb, who is one of the main perpetrators of the scam, a list of the recipients of the scam is believed to have been compiled, Yameen said. Pointing out that Police are still scrutinising the list for legibility, Yameen questioned why the list was not disclosed.

"What power [or] what legal basis does the police have to keep the list hidden? Why is the list not being disclosed? Will it be disclosed?" Yameen repeatedly asked.

Answering the question himself, Yameen said no state institution would have the courage to disclose the list.

“I just don’t believe that with the current government [and] a super majority in parliament, any institution [would dare to disclose the list],” he said.

Some of the charges filed against Yameen in connection with the MMPRC scam are still pending in court. The High Court has quashed the 11-year jail sentence handed down to Yameen by the criminal court in the Vodamula case. The prosecution has appealed part of the verdict in the Supreme Court this week.

While Yameen called for a commission to investigate the scandal, a special presidential commission was set up during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration. However, at the end of five years in power, the state had not received any of the money lost in the scam.

The presidential commission set up by Solih was abolished by the current government.