Presidential candidate for the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) Abdulla Yameen has accused the former Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government of gross overspending for the SAARC Summit in 2011.

Speaking at a PPM campaign event held in Artificial Beach last night, Yameen said that the government had spent MVR 800 million for the last SAARC summit held in Addu City in 2011, in contrast to a MVR 231 million budget that was granted by the parliament.

He came by this information through audit reports, he said, which were “about to be disclosed.”

“The state proposed and the parliament granted MVR 231 million. Money was spent for the SAARC Summit, an audit was carried out, and the audit report is almost in our hands, or is about to be disclosed. Government had spent MVR 800 million for the SAARC Summit. It is something that was allowed MVR 231 million, and was concluded by spending MVR 800 million.” Yameen, who is also a member of Parliament Public Accounts Committee said.

Claiming that the matter also involved corruption, Yameen said that it has to be investigated by the parliament and that government has to be accountable in this matter.