Chief Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) has denied rumors that the table auctioned off by the President's Office is the historic table used by the five previous presidents.
Shareef released a statement regarding the news circulated in the press surrounding the table, stating that the picture that is being circulated in the media showing a table that was allegedly auctioned off by the President's Office has never been used by any president.
Shareef said that the table was auctioned sold due to damage caused by termites rendering it beyond repair and making it difficult to maintain, and that the state puts up such items as per the relevant regulations and procedures.
Shareef went on to say that any furniture from the President's Office that gets put up for auction would have the state emblem removed if there was such an emblem on it.
"An unknown party has brought changes to the table as per news and pictures, and have shared it via the media to make it seem like it is the official table used by former presidents," reads Shareef's statement.
Shareef urged the media to obtain legitimate information from the relevant official administrations before such news is published, and to not share false information that has not been officially confirmed that may misdirect the public.
The individual who purchased the table last month at the auction held by the President's Office told the press that it was used by the previous five presidents. They also said that the President's Office had provided said information to them, with him purchasing the table for MVR 12,500.
Looking at the information that has been gazetted by the President's Office, last month's action saw four "executive" tables from the office be put up for auction. This includes three tables aged 24 years and one table aged 15 years.
The valuation of two of the tables is at MVR 10,500, with bidding starting at MVR 1,050. The valuation of the third table is at MVR 3,600, with a starting price of MVR 360. The valuation of the fourth table is at MVR 3,200, with bidding starting at MVR 320.
