Funds in Yameen's accounts at same levels as State budget: Falah

The ruling People's National Congress (PNC) parliamentary group leader, Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falah, has alleged former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's accounts hold funds equivalent to the state budget for one year.

Falah made the allegation during the PNC rally on Tuesday evening. At the rally Falah placed serious allegations on the former head of state.

The MP said that both of Yameen's closest aides, former Minister Mohamed Maleeh and Yameen's lawyer Dr. Mohamed Jameel had previously made multiple accusations against the former president.

Falah also said that both Maleeh and Jameel previously accused Yameen possessed millions in personal funds, which the former president himself had confessed to during his court trials.

The former president earlier said the funds in his personal accounts were campaign allocations.

Falah pointed out that depositing campaign funds to personal accounts went against the Political Parties Act.

The MP also said that the funds transferred to Yameen's account cannot be withdrawn either through bank cheques or transfers.

"The thing is these accounts are deposit-only, there is no cheque book. No option for transfers, so the funds never decrease, it only compounds. We have information that Yameen currently possess funds equivalent to the state budget for a one-year period," Falah alleged.

Falah claimed these allegations have been made first by both Maleeh and Jameel.

He also said that the public will question if former leaders continued to pursue luxurious lifestyles without acquiring loans to construct their residences to 12 stories or run businesses.

"Such leaders are not admirable. Putting these screens to give presentations while Jameel and Maleeh flank him [Yameen]. This is undesirable. It is for us," Falah said.

Yameen began efforts to form a new political party after exiting Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the rulign PNC which he founded in 2018.

The former president stepped out of the ruling coalition following a spat with incumbent president Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.