Maldives Police Service (MPS) has revealed former President Abdulla Yameen was summoned for the investigation on the misappropriation of USD 90.3 million from state funds.
Former President Yameen, who is already serving a five year prison sentence for money laundering, is accused of embezzling state funds, laundering it and using it for bribery. MPS says the new allegations are not part of the same case which the former president was convicted last November. The police also stated the new allegations have been clarified to Yameen in the presence of his lawyers.
One of the allegations against Yameen is the embezzlement of USD 77.5 million which were received as acquisition cost following the corrupt sale of multiple islands for resort development from Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). He is also accused of misappropriating and laundering USD 1.3 million generated to MMPRC in the name of buying foreign currency for different state institutions. In addition, the former president is accused of taking a bribe of USD 1.1 million during the lease of Fuhgiri, Raa Atoll for resort development and laundering the money.
The statement from MPS on the new allegations came after the legal team of the former president claimed Yameen was summoned to police for questioning on the same case under which he is serving his prison sentence. However, MPS has rejected these claims.
Yameen was sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of acquiring USD 1 million for personal use from the MMPRC corruption scandal and laundering the money.