Maldives' graft watchdog has questioned jailed former vice president Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor the evidence uncovered in the Al Jazeera expose as it finalises the report of the largest corruption scandal in the archipelago’s history.
Created by the Emmy and BAFTA winning Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit, the documentary titled ‘Stealing Paradise’ contains leaked documents, text messages and recorded confessions that has blown the lid off corruption, thuggery and international money laundering in the island nation.
According to the Doha based broadcaster, the leak is the contents of three mobile phones which it says belonged to the now jailed Adheeb who is serving 33 years in prison for two counts of terrorism and corruption
The official audit report had revealed that over USD79 million had been embezzled through the state tourism promotion company.
Maldives Media and PR Corporation (MMPRC) had mediated the leasing of over 59 different tourist hotels, resorts and yacht marinas out of which 53 had been leased through an agreement with the tourism ministry.
The funds received by MMPRC was distributed through a private company with strong links to Adheeb.
According to text messages and secretly filmed confessions included in the documentary, president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, through his former deputy had siphoned off millions in state funds, hijacked state institutions and bribed state officials including judges, lawyers and parliamentarians to exert his authoritarian power over the whole country.
Former aides of the now jailed ex-VP Adheeb had gone on record to say that they had personally delivered “bags of cash” to the president himself.
Mohamed ‘Moho’ Latheef who ran the front company through which nearly USD80 million was siphoned off told Al Jazeera that president Yameen was aware of the whole scheme.
Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) had vowed to chase down the evidence in the documentary saying it was extremely 'helpful' to its own investigation.
Maldives government has denied the allegations, labeling the documentary as biased and in pursuance of an already declared agenda against the government.
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