President: No option for Adeeb but to return funds to State

Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor – serving 33 years in prison for embezzlement and terrorism – has no option left to return the funds he owes to the State, says President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Speaking during the inauguration of Progressive Party of Maldives’ “Rumaalu 2” Hall last Monday night, President Yameen said Adeeb had once been one of his closest companions, but that he too had no option but to return the funds he embezzled from the State.

“The only option for Ahmed Adeeb is to first of all, return all the funds he owes the State.”

He said that Adeeb, along with other opposition politicians needed to return all embezzled funds. He said it was his target to recover all embezzled funds before the end of his five-year term in office.

Opposition politicians allege some of the funds embezzled by Adeeb had gone to President Yameen himself.

Al-Jazeera, in its documentary “Stealing Paradise” cited sources claiming they delivered embezzled funds sent by Adeeb straight to the President’s residence.

President Yameen, in his speech, refuted the claims and said Al-Jazeera had no proof to back the claim.

“Al-Jazeera just saw boxes being delivered to my residence. They saw nothing else,” said President Yameen.

The President said multiple parliamentarians won their seats with Adeeb’s funding, and called out for all of them to resign.

“Ahmed Adeeb was the one to fund campaigns for candidates we wanted elected to the parliament. So, the money that went into our homes isn’t halal for sure. The parliamentarians who believe this, please resign,” said President Yameen.

President Yameen, in an earlier statement said the State will not grant his request to travel abroad for medical treatment until he returns the funds he owes the State.