Money transfers from the Sinamale' bridge developer to opposition presidential candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's account while he was housing minister were rent payments, the Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) coalition has said.
PPM Secretary General Mohamed Tholal told Adhadhu that the US dollars deposited to Muizzu's account every month were rent for two apartments.
"The dollars deposited to Dr. Muizzu's account every month were rent for two apartments leased from his row house," Tholal said.
The bank was informed of the source of the funds after the Sinamale' bridge developer rented the two apartments, he added. Muizzu has been paying income tax regularly and does not have anything to hide, Tholal said.
Large sums of money were deposited from foreign companies and local parties to Muizzu's account between January 2015 and November 2018 while he was housing minister.
Adhadhu has obtained detailed records of US dollars deposited between February 1, 2017 to October 15, 2018 to Muizzu's US dollar account at the Bank of Maldives (BML).
The documents show significantly large sums deposited from three companies to Muizzu's personal account. The money came from contractors of government projects and a local company with close links to Muizzu.
Hunan Number 6 Engineering Corp Ltd/ Hunan Construction
This is the company that built the Sinamale' bridge highway while Muizzu was housing minister. The project was awarded for USD 24 million on April 15, 2017.
Financial assistance for the project was provided under an agreement signed during President Abdulla Yameen's official visit to China on December 10, 2017. Under the agreement signed in front of Chinese President Xi Jinping, financing was arranged from the country's Industrial and Commercial Bank.
Land reclamation needed to expand the road was carried out as part of the project in addition to setting up road signs and street lamps.
The records obtained by Adhadhu show that the company transferred a total of USD 70,499 to Muizzu's account on four occasions in 2018.
Transaction dates and amounts
- March 20, 2018: USD 7500
- March 30, 2018: USD 47,999
- July 15, 2018: USD 7500
- October 1, 2018: USD 7500
In addition to these transactions, a company called IOF Corporation transferred USD 50,000 to Muizzu's account on April 16, 2017.
In 2015, the company of a famous Maldivian businessperson deposited MVR 1 million as salary to Muizzu's account in 2015. The company has confirmed the transfer to Adhadhu.
Transactions with unknown parties
On three occasions in 2017 and 2018, a total of USD 25,599 and MVR 600,000 were deposited to Muizzu's account from unknown sources.
Muizzu declared the money from the foreign company as rent payments. But there are no businesses registered under Muizzu's name.
Building Dhimyaath
Maafannu Dhimyaath is the personal property of Muizzu's father. The house now belongs to Muizzu. An MVR 39 million loan was taken from the Maldives Islamic Bank for the construction of a multi-storey building. Of MVR 13 million settled as a first payment to the contractor RCC, MVR 11 million was paid in cash. It was paid for the invoice number R/1354/2017.
Muizzu is not among the shareholders of the Dhimyaath Pvt Ltd company that obtained the construction loan. The main shareholder is Muizzu's wife Sajidha Mohamed. The second shareholder is Muizzu's friend Abdulla Fayaz (brother of Moosa Zameer), former deputy housing minister.
Dhimyaath was leased to Dhimyaath Pvt Ltd for 20 years.
Authorities aware of transactions
The money transfers to Muizzu's account did come to the attention of the relevant authorities. But the cases were not investigated under either the current or previous administrations.
A source who was a senior official of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) at the time confirmed that a complaint had been filed. The case remains at the ACC.
Appearing on Adhadhu's 'Etherefuh' program last week, Muizzu denied any illegal payments to his personal account. "There's nothing that I have to be worried about," Muizzu said at a campaign rally in Laamu Fonadhoo on Friday night.
"I can't be posed a question that I can't answer. There won't be any allegation for me to evade. There won't be anything that I've done at any time that was against laws and regulations. I'm not doing it now and won't do it in the future," he said.
