Statement by former Vice President

Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor

This statement is in response to the statements made by President of the Maldives, which
are baseless groundless accusations.

The incumbent Government had received various amounts donated by various business
interests in forming and maintaining this Government. As the funds were political
donations, they were disbursed for various political endeavours, under the orders of
President. The details and results of these donations were shared with the President as
well. The Government had won the majority in the Parliament and all subsequent
elections since swearing into power. As the ruling Party, all events of Progressive Party
of the Maldives were run with the said funds. I had not used any of those funds for any
personal endeavours. The funds the Government received during my administration,
continues to pour into the Government.

The losses in the Parliament and elections directly stems from the worsening ties with
said influential businesses and their lack of investment into this administration. If the
President should desire so, I am prepared to release the details of the funds contributed,
through media sources.

Regarding the funds missing from MMPRC. President Abdullah Yameen is in the know
of how the funds were acquired, how much was brought in, how it was spent and the
truth. MMPRC was headed by Abdullah Ziyath, a direct appointee of President Yameen.
President Yameen facilitated the change in the laws, whereby all uninhabited islands
were leased under MMPRC administration. That is not a decision that can be taken by
the Tourism Minister. I was not assigned to administer funds of MMPRC. My job was to
source investors for uninhabited islands to be developed into resorts. I carried out this
endeavour successfully. In this aspect, In Shaa Allah, all resorts that will open up in the
Maldives in the next 10 years, will be from the agreements made under my tenure. I had
placed special emphasis on leasing islands to developers who are capable of developing
and operating resorts.

President Yameen was very clear on how much that entered MMPRC and how those
funds were used. The truth was that I had no control over how the funds were
administered. It was not part of my mandate.
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After I was arrested, I had the opportunity to talk to Abdullah Ziyath in Dhoonidhoo. When
I questioned him about the funds, he said President Yameen had instructed him to
convert the dollars through companies associated with Adeeb. He said that after
conversion, the companies had paid MMPRC. Ziyath said that around 80 percent of the
converted funds were handed over directly to President Yameen. The rest, he said was
distributed, with the permission of President Yameen.

I also questioned on how direct transfers to another account was possible as the cheques
to MMPRC needed to be deposited to the account under the companys name. I had
posed this question, with full knowledge of changes made to cheque deposition
procedures. I also was aware that these cheques were deposited to other accounts
against company regulations. In response, Ziyath said that President had facilitated all
arrangements from within the bank. Ziyath informed that Preisdent Yameen had said a
one Mohamed Luwaiz, a board member of Bank of Maldives, will facilitate all such
arrangement. Luwaiz is also the Minister of State for Economic Relations at Presidents
Office. He is also the Government appointee to the board of Bank of Maldives.

I also questioned on how these huge sums to MMPRC will be recovered to the State.
Ziyath said there was no need for concern and an Arabian nation will supply US$ 100
million. The US$100 million will be brought in through MMA and will be used to supply
the shortage to MMPRC. He added that he was instructed not to involve Adeeb in this
process and that Adeeb was not in the know.

I questioned Ziyath on his testimony to Police; mainly why he had implicated me, when I
had little to no knowledge of these processes. He said the President had promised a
reduced sentence if Adeeb was implicated in this manner. He also said President had
assured that the jobs of his family members, mainly that of MTCC CEO Ibrahim Ziyath
and Auditor General Hassan Ziyath will not be revoked.

Eighty percent of the proceeds from MMPRC, as reported missing from the audit report,
was directly handed to President. Members of Parliament and Cabinet Ministers clearly
know that this was not spent on any political activity. President Yameen knows exactly
what happened to the funds.

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When President Yameen says that I will be released for medical purposes when the
missing funds are returned back to the state, he clearly knows I have no connection to
the funds. With none of it spent, President has full control of the said funds. I had
requested to be flown for medical treatment, as the treatment I need is not available in
the Maldives. When President Yameen says that he cannot release me, fully
understanding the circumstances, shows that he has no intention of providing me with
the required care.

I returned back to the Maldives fully understanding that I will not be deemed guilty in a
fair trial. Even at the time of my return I know of the plot to jail me on various charges.
However, I am not one to shy away from challenges. Im still resolute on this.

No in-depth investigation has been carried out on MMPRC. It is doubtful that an

independent in-depth investigation into MMPRC will be carried out under this
administration. I call on this administration to conduct an in-depth investigation with
international investigative agencies. The MMPRC investigation that was carried out after
I was jailed and with the end goal of incriminating me. MMPRC offices went under Army
control; the documentation in those offices must be investigated as well.

Many of the Parliamentarians had defected from the Government due to their
reservations over Government policies and deprivation of health care for me. I call on the
remaining Parliamentarians to reconsider their stance regarding my health care.

I thank all those Maldivians who had raised their voices calling on the
Government to grant me access to proper health care.

Former Vice President of Maldives

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