All of the funds lost in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) scandal will be recovered and those involved will be punished regardless of their status, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said last night.
Speaking at the meeting hall of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), the President said he will “find that money for the people” and punish everyone who was involved in the MMPRC theft.
“I want to find the people’s money for the people. MMPRC is the biggest case among this when we consider [cases of stolen funds]. This government will do whatever is necessary to identify those who committed that theft, give out the deserving punishment regardless of who that person is, and find that money for the people,” President Muizzu said.
However, those involved in the MMPRC scandal must be convicted in a fair trial, President Muizzu said.
“It must be proven fairly that it is a person who participated it,” he said.
The only person convicted in the MMPRC scandal was former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb. The court sentenced him to 20 years in prison. However, the previous government commuted the sentence and freed him.
Former President Abdulla Yameen was convicted on two occasions in MMPRC cases. He was handed a five-year sentence and an 11-year sentence. However, both verdicts were overturned by higher courts.
In his remarks last night, the President also said that a new law will be made to recover assets and funds stolen from the state, covering the MMPRC corruption and embezzlement.
“This includes recovering those assets, recovering those funds from everyone who illicitly sold state assets, profited by selling at low prices and did such things, and finding the money in a manner that benefits the public,” he said.
When the law is drafted, it will be shaped to make it easier to recover stolen funds kept overseas, President Muizzu said.
“Then God willing, not just the money stolen and kept in the Maldives, it will become easier than now to find money if it has been taken out of the Maldives,” the President said.
