President's Office Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) has denied allegations made by former Police Commissioner Hussain Waheed, who claimed that President Mohamed Muizzu escaped legal consequences in the Noomadi case by bribing a judge with MVR 800,000.
During a People’s National Front (PNF) rally on Thursday night, Hussain Waheed made the serious accusation, saying he was prepared to swear on the Holy Quran that his claims were true.
The allegation was raised during a press conference held today by the President’s Office—an event from which Adhadhu remains excluded. In response to questions regarding the claims, Shareef dismissed them as outright lies.
"Let Hussain Waheed take his oath; I will stand right beside him. I was a Minister at the President’s Office at the time. I am an individual with personal knowledge and evidence that President Muizzu committed no wrongdoing in any of the matters mentioned," Shareef claimed.
Shareef further asserted that the allegations had already been proven false in court and maintained that Muizzu is not someone who would offer bribes. He added that if Hussain Waheed proceeded with a formal oath on the matter, relevant state institutions would investigate the claims.
"It is a lie. Mohamed Muizzu is not someone who steals, nor will he ever. I cannot speak for Hussain Waheed’s character," Shareef added.
Hussain Waheed had previously claimed he possessed knowledge of Muizzu's dishonesty regarding the Noomadi case. He said that he had questioned one of the President’s lawyers on how the legal victory was secured.
"When I asked, he told me it was because money was given to the judge. I asked how much, and he said MVR 800,000. This is what that lawyer told me directly," Hussain claimed.
Hussain further argued that based on the discrepancies between Muizzu's statements to the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, his remarks in Parliament, and his court testimony, Muizzu deserved to be labeled a "liar."
The Noomadi controversy centers on the USD 55 million (MVR 848 million) settlement paid to Noomadi Resorts and Residences following the wrongful termination of housing contracts during the administrations of former Presidents Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik and Abdulla Yameen. Former President Yameen has previously blamed Muizzu for the state’s massive financial loss in the case.
