Maafannu Medhu MP Ibrahim Rasheed 'Bonde' denied meeting former vice president Ahmed Adeeb to secure a "deal" for the lease of Raa Fuggiri, accusing him of false testimony at the criminal court.
Testifying in former president Abdulla Yameen's bribery and money laundering trial over the Fuggiri lease on Monday, Adeeb - who was tourism minister at the time of the transaction - claimed that Bonde had taken part in the first meeting with influential Indian businessmen who were operating a Dubai company that leased the island.
Bonde told Adhadhu on Tuesday that Adeeb lied in court as a prosecution witness. As false testimony is a crime, the MP said he would send a letter to the criminal court judge with an explanation.
"The last time I met [Adeeb] was many years ago, during president Nasheed's government, when he appeared in a committee on behalf of an association, I remember it was the chamber of commerce. I haven't met him since then," Bonde said.
"He shouldn't tell such a lie."
Bonde said he was the Maldives representative of the Dubai company that leased Fuggiri but denied attending the alleged meeting at the tourism ministry. The ministry's staff would bear witness to that and security camera footage should be checked, he said, accusing Adeeb of violating the privileges of a parliament member.
Explaining his role in the Fuggiri case, Bonde said he has been doing business in the tourism sector for many years and served as an intermediary in island lease transactions during former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's government.
"When 11 parties bid for Vilivaru and Biyadhoo, I bid with Ritz-Carlton and Marriott. We were the first who brought international hotel chains. I was the one who signed [the agreement] in my capacity as the MD. People know I've been involved in such matters," he said.
Bonde noted that he was not part of the previous parliament and said he focused on developing his private business in the tourism sector during those five years. The company that leased Fuggiri approached him wanting to bring an international brand to the country and he was appointed as a representative due to close business ties, Bonde said.
"They couldn't get the first island they wanted. They couldn't get the second either. This [Fuggiri] was the third island. Then at the time, I was jailed on May Day. Then the first payment for this was taken by the state, a payment of USD 150,000 was taken, and when they did, I complained to the ministry and the [Anti-Corruption Commission]," Bonde explained.
Bonde said he was the whistleblower who exposed the Fuggiri case. The complaint filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission and statements provided at the time should remain there but he has not been questioned to date, Bonde said.
"In any case, I've always been listed as a state witness. But I should be summoned as a witness to clear up what happened. There are the letters I sent to the ministry officially. This was not done in secret. When such an amount of money was stolen, I reported it under my responsibility," Bonde said.
He alleged that Adeeb's claim was made for political purposes at the behest of the government. Bonde was among 13 MPs who left the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to form The Democrats.
At yesterday's hearing, Yameen's defence lawyer Adam Shameem asked Adeeb about the capacity in which Bonde joined the meeting. In response, Adeeb said Bonde was the company's representative in the Maldives.
The acquisition cost for the island agreed upon at the meeting was USD 2.5 million. But a reduction to USD 400,000 was requested during discussions that took place later through Ahmed 'Krik' Riza, Adeeb said.
