Did all possible to free Yameen: President

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said that he has no resentment towards former President Abdulla Yameen and added that he did all possible to free him.

The President denied all accusations levied against him in recent People's National Front (PNF) rallies by Yameen and his party members.

Speaking in a special interview with SanguTV yesterday, President Muizzu reminded that during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, it was he himself who had been in defence of Yameen when he had been faced with multiple charges. He said that he had no other thought then besides freeing Yameen from prison.

He said that he had been filled with immense joy on the day Yameen had been freed from his initial prison sentence.

"We were working on finding ways to free him, if he hasn't deleted them, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's phone will have all the messages I sent him then," the President said.

"To bring [Yameen] home for Ramadan, as his child's O'level exams were nearing, at least to bring him home for the duration of the O'level exams, I messaged and pleaded multiple times. I also messaged powerful ministers of the cabinet as well."

The President said that he had participated in all efforts through the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) to free Yameen, having organized some, and on his own initiative, offering financial assistance as well.

He said that even during last year's Presidential election, it had been of highest priority to him to call for Yameen's freedom. He said that PPM's Senate at the time would bear witness to the fact that he had been ready to hand over the party ticket for candidacy to Yameen should he become free even until the last minute.

He said that he had ultimately run for President when the Supreme Court had ruled that Yameen could not contest, and PPM leadership was of the view that the party must win the election in order to free Yameen.

The President said that he, alongside Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla, had made arrangements to allow the party leadership to meet Yameen when he was transferred to house arrest after Muizzu won the presidential elections.

"Certainly, my intentions are clear. My words, actions and intentions were all dedicated to freeing Yameen," he asserted.

In recent PNF rallies, Yameen has accused President Muizzu of taking money from former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb to spy on Yameen. he further alleges that Muizzu has received funds from the MMPRC corruption scandal.

President Muizzu categorically denied all these allegations, asserting that he has never, at any point, spied on anyone. He assured that he would never resort to such action, and stated that he has not taken money from Adeeb or any other person.

Yameen also claims that the President met with Adeeb during his recent trip to Singapore for a health check up.

The President dismissed this claims, pointing out that he had never been close to Adeeb and asserting he has never separately met with him. He went on to say that he has not met with Adeeb even once since the explosion on the presidential speed boat 'Finifenmaa'.

He expressed concerns on why people around Yameen were providing him with false information such as that.

"I am surprised that Yameen even believes such claims," he said.