Presidential Commission highlights 9 issues against former President Gayoom

source: miadhu daily

The Presidential Commission formed by President Nasheed to investigate large scale embezzlement and corruption of state funds and resources has revealed 9 issues of corruption allegedly carried out by the former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom during his 30 year presidency.

In a statement issued yesterday the Commission stated that during the 30 year presidency, from 11 November 1978 to 10 November 2008, former President Gayoom gave priority to his family and close friends and spent large amounts of state funds on them and that the commission wanted to bring in the former President to answer questions regarding this, in light of the numerous evidences the commission has obtained to prove their case.

The first noted in the Commission’s statement is the issue highlighted in report produced by the Auditor General in 2008 after auditing the Presidential Palace. The report highlighted that while the government allocated Rf. 65 million, as aid for the poor and needy, in the state budget and handed over the funds to then Presidential Palace, Theemuge, the former President had spent large amounts, indiscriminately, on close friends and family.

The second issue noted was the spending several millions of rufiyaa on senior government officials and members of the parliament, for personal use, under the pretext of preventing corruption and not making any attempt to recover the monies from those who have not repaid the loans. The commission noted that over Rf. 125 million is still owed to the government.

The third issue noted is using presidential powers to prevent the prosecution of certain cases of corruption investigated by the Anti Corruption Board, established by the former President himself to investigate and eliminate corruption. Closing of some these corruption issues investigated by the Anti Corruption Board, instead of being prosecuted, after imposing a small administrative fine was also noted by the commission.

The fourth issue noted against the former President is reinstating of senior government officials exposed on corruption charges, after initially being removed from office. Such officials were usually given positions where corruption could be easily carried out.

The fifth issue was the case of Fisheries Projects Implementation Department (FPID). The sixth case noted was the interruption of ongoing negotiations on forming a national airline with Singapore Airlines and Emirates Airlines and signing a joint venture agreement to form a national airline with Malaysian Helicopter Services (MHS) without a feasibility study or business plan, resulting huge losses to the government.

The seventh issue noted was the selling of Vakarufali resort leased to STO, despite the sale being disapproved by the company’s board. The statement noted that the president office has exerted considerable pressure to sell the island to company part owned by the then police commissioner’s wife.

The eighth issue noted was failure to take action against members of his cabinet who was involved in large scale corruption despite being aware of such actions. The ninth issue highlighted against the former President was using his presidential powers to pardon or waive fines imposed by government institutions and legal authorities, without regard to rules and procedures.

The commission’s statement also noted that after due investigations with support and cooperation of Maldives Police Services and other government institutions, several cases are to be sent for prosecution.