MDP alleges opposition figures ‘discriminately’ targeted to divert attention from corruption claims against govt

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has accused the People’s National Congress (PNC) administration of using the police and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to discriminately target members of the opposition with criminal investigations, and use it to divert attention from the serious allegations of corruption against the administration.

The allegations come a day after the police conducted a raid on the residence of Moosa Ali Manik (Mookey), the former managing director of Road Development Corporation (RDC) and a member of the MDP’s national council.

In a statement on Saturday morning, the MDP described the raid, which took place at around 02:00 am on Friday while Mookey and his family were sleeping, as “intrusive.”

The party said that the incident exemplifies “a troubling trend of intimidation and harassment directed at opposition figures, raising serious concerns about the erosion and speedy decline of democratic norms and respect for basic rights in the Maldives” under President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration.

The MDP alleged that the rhetoric used by the government as justification for their actions is based on “completely unsubstantiated claims” defaming members of the MDP and other opposition members.

The MDP highlighted on other incidents which it described as “an escalating series of politically motivated incidents that highlight gross government overreach.” This includes:

• Ordering investigations against former Maldivian president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, MDP chairperson and former economic minister Fayyaz Ismail, and former state minister at the President's Office Ali Shiyam, who served as a co-chair of the President's Economic Council, regarding settlements granted under the MDP administration.
• Instituting travel bans on former state minister for housing Akram Kamaluddin and former managing director of Fenaka Corporation Ahmed Saeed Mohamed in connection to corruption investigations by the ACC.
• Issuing a police summons against MDP activist Hussein Shafiu (Thuthu) over a post on social media platform X.
• Threatening action against Fayyaz for a speech he gave at an MDP rally.

The MDP said that while it fully supports investigations into allegations of corruption by the independent authorities as enshrined within the Maldivian constitution, recent amendments to the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, pushed through the Parliament by the government’s supermajority, have severely undermined the impartiality and independence of the ACC.

The amendments, which were passed on November 25 and ratified the next day, grants the Maldivian President the authority to appoint the president and vice president of the ACC.

MDP alleged that the amendments, which it described as “autocratic”, gives the state effective political control of the ACC, and turns it “a tool to be wielded in pursuing his [President Muizzu’s] personal political vendettas.”

The MDP also accused the police of arbitrary selectivity over corruption investigations, which it said highlights “further compromise within the integrity of the country's oversight mechanisms, and weakening public trust in independent institutions.”

“The aforementioned cases are being weaponized with an end toward targeting opposition members while simultaneously deflecting attention from serious allegations of corruption against the current administration,” said the MDP.

 The MDP said that this includes allegations of gross misuse of state funds through the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), as well as corruption within the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) in selling highly sought-after plots of land in the greater Male' region.

“At the time of writing, no credible investigations have been initiated to this effect,” said the party.

The MDP demanded that the government cease politically motivated persecution of members of opposing parties, and respect the principles of democracy, transparency, and accountability.

The party also urged the international community to “closely monitor these developments and support the Maldivian people in safeguarding our hard-won democratization freedoms.”

In addition to raiding Mookey’s Male’ home, the police also raided two properties linked to Yasir Hassan, the former chief financial officer (CFO) of RDC. The police said they seized evidence, including electronic devices, in the raids.

The RDC had been hit with multiple allegations of corruption during the MDP administration, and racked up over MVR 800 million in debt at the end of the administration.