President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom on Monday has called on lawmakers who had their election campaigns funded by his former deputy Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Ghafoor to resign.
Speaking during a ceremony held Monday evening to open a new ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) camp in the capital Male, president Yameen said the funds distributed by the now jailed former vice president had been stolen from the state coffers.
In light of the facts, the president called on lawmakers who had their election campaigns funded by the ex-VP to immediately resign and seek re-election through "legitimate means."
"We need to find out which lawmakers had been elected on the funds handed by Adheeb. Adheeb had funded the election campaigns of several MPs. So my house, our house is tainted by the graft money. So if they [lawmakers] truly believe that they should step down," president Yameen said.
President had stressed on the hypocrisy involved if such members voice against corruption but remain in elected office on the back of graft funds.
Additionally president Yameen said he too, is tainted by the corruption and needs to recover the funds to clear his conscience and prove he had no part in the scandal.
The president concluded by pledging that the government would do everything possible to recover money stolen and owed to the state.
Maldives Media and PR Corporation (MMPRC) had mediated the leasing of over 59 different tourist hotels, resorts and yacht marinas out of which 53 had been leased through an agreement with the tourism ministry.
The official audit report into the scandal, had revealed that over USD79 million had been embezzled through the state tourism promotion company.
The funds received by MMPRC was distributed through a private company with strong links to Adheeb.
