Yameen charged with money laundering

Male: Former President of the Maldives Abdulla Yameen on Wednesday was charged with money laundering in a case related to lease of tropical islands and alleged transfer of $1 million government funds into his personal bank account. “We have charged Abdulla Yameen with money laundering and submitted the case to the criminal court,” the Prosecutor General’s spokesperson Ahmed Thaufeeg told Efe news.

Yameen, who lost the presidential election to Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in September 2018, is accused of benefiting from one of the biggest corruption scandal in the island’s history as $90 million was allegedly laundered from the state tourism board. According to prosecutors, investigation has found that SOF, a private company, was used to siphon the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) funds. The tourism board had collected the money through the lease of islands and lagoons for development as holiday resorts. The police accused the former President of lying to the anti-corruption watchdog. (IANS)

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