Ahead of the parliamentary polls in Maldives, the opposition parties have demanded a probe and impeachment of President Mohamed Muizzu following a leaked report of his alleged corruption from 2018, a charge dismissed by him. Elections to the Majlis are to be held on April 21, 2024, and the atmosphere has been vitiated with charges between the Maldivian Democratic Party and Muizzu’s Peoples National Congress (PNC).
Local media reports have highlighted that the political storm started on April 15, 2024, with anonymous handle Hassan Kurusee, posting on social media X leaked intelligence reports including documents prepared by the Financial Intelligence Unit of the (FIU) of the Maldives Monetary Authority and the Maldives Police Service that allegedly linked President Muizzu to corruption.
These reports dated circa 2018, claim irregularities in money transfers to President Muizzu personal bank account highlighting ten red critical flag indicators of financial misconduct. These indicators suggest involvement with politically exposed persons, embezzlement, structured transactions and the use of corporate entities to hide fund origins, a Maldivian news agency reported.
The allegations soon created a political firestorm with several reactions poring on social media platforms, channels. Newspapers, however tread with caution. The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDF) and Peoples National Front (PNF) demanded an investigation into the matter. Former VP Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed urged Muizzu’s impeachment following the leaked intelligence reports, emphasising the need for accountability at all levels of governance.
Apart from demanding Muizzu’s impeachment, Jameel, a senior member of the Progressive Party of Maldives also accused Muizzu of extensive corruption in his flagship Ras Male developmental project and alleged excessive spending on public relations. Jameel has called on President to cooperate with independent investigations into these allegations, the Maldives media reported.
The news portal also claimed that this was the first time an FIU report was leaked and said, there has been no official confirmation or response from government bodies regarding the legitimacy of the reports of the allegations.
Another media reported that Muizzu responded late on April 16, 2024 night to corruption allegations declaring that the opposition cannot show any wrongdoing on his part regardless of how far attempts to implicate him are taken and also accused the opposition of leaking reports out of desperation. The same allegations were made during his campaign for mayor and President,” he said adding the response would also be the same as before.
While you attempt to pin something like this on me, you couldn’t do it before and you can’t do it now. There’s nothing you can show against me no matter how far you take this, the media reported. A Third media agency gave a detailed account of what Muizzu said in his defence including how many such allegations are made, nobody willable be able to show anything done in such a manner.
The last five years the opposition was in the government, if there was anything done wrong it would have come to light Muizzu said. “The President remarks came after the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party and Peoples National Front called on relevant authorities to investigate the serious allegations against the President. But no government investigative agency has yet to comment on the issue,” the third media quoted.
A total of 368 candidates are contesting for 93 seats in this year’s parliamentary elections on April 21, according to media reports. The outcome of the elections will determine whether the opposition parties can act against President Muizzu, who assumed charge in November last year.
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