Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) has rejected allegations made by former Police Commissioner Hussain Waheed linking President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to bribery in the Noomadi compensation case.

Speaking during a series of press briefings on Saturday, Shareef responded to claims made by Waheed at a Progressive National Front (PNF) rally that President Muizzu had paid MVR 800,000 to a judge to avoid criminal liability.

Waheed alleged he could "swear before God" that the claim was true.

Responding to the allegation, Shareef said Waheed should formally make such a declaration if he believed the accusation.

"Let Hussain Waheed swear before God. I will stand beside him. I was there at the time as well," he said, referring to his role as a minister at the President's Office during the period in question.

Shareef said he was certain President Muizzu had committed no wrongdoing in the case.

"Mohamed Muizzu is not a person who would steal," he said, adding that he could not make the same assertion about Waheed.

The dispute stems from the cancellation of a housing project awarded to Noomadi while President Muizzu was serving as housing minister. The government terminated the contract, citing the contractor's failure to progress with the project in accordance with the agreement.

Noomadi subsequently initiated arbitration proceedings in the Netherlands, resulting in the Maldivian government being ordered to pay the company USD 55 million in compensation.

Following the arbitration proceedings, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration brought criminal charges against President Muizzu, alleging that he had made false statements that caused losses to the state.

In 2023, the Criminal Court ruled that the allegations against President Muizzu had not been proven and acquitted him of the charges.