Dr. Mohamed Muizzu received a donation of MVR 1 million while he was housing minister during former President Abdulla Yameen's administration, the Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) candidate's campaign spokesman Mohamed Tholal said on Saturday.
In response to an Adhadhu report about large sums of money deposited to Muizzu's account from foreign companies, Tholal said in the PPM's media group that the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) leader Ahmed Siyam Mohamed provided the funds on October 20, 2015.
"The candidate said it was a donation from Sun Siyam when he faced difficulties in making the row house downpayment," said Tholal, who is also the PPM's secretary general.
According to bank records obtained by Adhadhu, MVR 1 million was deposited to Muizzu's account as salary by the company of a famous Maldivian businessperson. It is unclear why he was owed a salary.
Tholal said money transfers to Muizzu from foreign companies from 2015 onward were rent payments for his row house in Hulhumale'. Muizzu has been paying income tax regularly and does not have anything to hide, he 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.
