Members of Parliament spoke out against Anti Corruption Commission (ACC)'s former President Hassan Luthfee's accusations that Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla threatened him.
Luthfee, who is currently out of the country, gave an interview to Sangu TV claiming that Imran threatened to frame and arrest him. He further added that a group of individuals intercepted him on the road, choked him and threatened him as well.
However, Imran who is currently in Saudi Arabia, expressed astonishment at Luthfee's allegations.
Reports state that Luthfee is residing in Malaysia with his family after he took his annual leave from ACC in April. The Parliament’s Committee on Independent Institutions decided to sack Luthufee in June as he did not report to work for a long period of time.
Maldives Police Service are currently investigating the former ACC President in a case of money laundering.
Maavah MP Mohamed Saeed from People's National Congress (PNC) submitted an emergency motion to parliament over the threats allegedly made against Luthfee. Most Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) members who debated for the motion defended Minister Imran, stating that he was not the kind of person to issue such threats.
Some also stated that Luthfee left Maldives to avoid responsibility for his own actions.
Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb declared that former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom gifted Luthfee a Rehendhi flat worth MVR 4.5 million.
The parliamentarian from MDP further stated that Luthfee sat on the report by Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA)'s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) regarding USD 1 million being transferred from SOF accounts to former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's accounts.
Leader of Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and Kaashidhoo MP Abdulla Jabir accused Luthfee of leaving the country because he was afraid since the public was calling to investigate and find out who was negligent in the former administration's corruption scandals.
"Luthfee must be brought back through Interpol and imprisoned", Jabir said.
Makunudhoo MP Mohamed Raee stated that Luthfee did not deserve his salary, and the public believes that he has been ridden with corruption.
Raee called for Luthfee's Rehendhi flat and his apartment in Malaysia to be taken under the state. He further urged the authorities to arrest Luthfee and bring him back to Maldives.
Vaikaradhoo MP Mohamed Hussain Ziyadh stated that there is evidence suggesting Luthfee was part of various major embezzlement cases, noting that he hid FIU's corruption report for three years.
Highlighting that ACC was an independent body established to prevent acts of corruption, embezzlement and fraud, MDP's Ungoofaaru MP Mohamed Waheed declared that the commission had failed to fulfil their responsibilities.
Addu Meedhoo MP Rozina Adam also stated that it was difficult to believe that Imran will threaten Luthfee. All the members of ruling MDP who spoke in the session shared similar sentiments.
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