Yameen argued that investigative agencies cannot thoroughly investigate the case when senior officials of the current government are accused of involvement in the scam.
Former President Abdulla Yameen has 'challenged' the current administration to form an independent presidential commission to investigate the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption case.
At a People's National Front (PNF) meeting held last night, Yameen raised concerns about President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's statement during the People's National Congress (PNC) hub opening ceremony on July 7. President Muizzu had promised that the money lost in the MMPRC corruption would be recovered and those responsible would be punished.
Yameen argued that investigative agencies cannot thoroughly investigate the case when senior officials of the current government are accused of involvement in the case.
“If you have the courage to investigate, I challenge the President to form a presidential commission if the institutions are not looking into these matters without influence,” he said.
Yameen claimed that with the current administration's supermajority in Parliament, neither the police nor the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) can properly investigate the MMPRC corruption case.
Yameen proposed that the commission should include the Attorney General and the Prosecutor General, along with independent members not affiliated with the government or ruling parties. He emphasized that only such an independent investigation would be accepted by the public.
“...If you say you will investigate corruption cases more than ever before, I am giving you a challenge,” Yameen said.
He also noted that a significant challenge in investigating the MMPRC corruption is that former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb, the main suspect, is currently abroad after being released by the previous administration under former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
Yameen accused Adeeb of avoiding returning to the Maldives if the MMPRC case is investigated.
The MMPRC corruption, which came to light during Yameen's administration, was not investigated by either his government or any successive administrations.
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