People's National Congress (PNC) presidential candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday night denied claims about planning to appoint a gang leader as police commissioner.
At a campaign rally in Shaviyani Funadhoo ahead of the second round of the presidential election, Muizzu said false accusations were being made against him and urged supporters not to believe such talk.
"Apparently I have now decided to put a gang leader as police commissioner, they're very much tied to me," Muizzu said. "I haven't decided on any appointments yet."
The allegations were made in bad faith and were unrelated to the policies included in the PNC manifesto, Muizzu said. The purpose of spreading such claims was to incite fear among the public towards the PNC, he said.
"Creating a society with good behavior, respecting each other and making youth prosperous - isn't it completely opposite to all of this?" he asked.
The remarks came after allegations on social media about the Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) coalition's alleged ties to criminal gangs.
Former President Abdulla Yameen's administration was accused of empowering gangs during the last PPM government's five-year term.
