Maldives Police Services have stated that they are investigating the recently leaked audio clips alleged to be that of a cabinet minister.
The police are investigating the case due to possible criminal activities mentioned in the clips.
Twitter handle '@LeaksMV' caught the country by the storm last Saturday when explicit audio clips were revealed of a person assumed to be Tourism Minister Ali Waheed.
The twitter account threatened to expose a cabinet minister and posted an audio clip titled 'Episode 1' later the same day. In the clip, a man alleged to be Minister Ali Waheed can be heard criticising Health Minister Abdulla Ameen. A second voice assumed to be the voice of State Minister at Youth Ministry and close acquaintance of the tourism minister, footballer Assad Ali 'Adubarey', is also heard on the clip.
According to leaksMV, they obtained the audio clips recorded last Thursday at the Tourism Ministry from a 'whistleblower'. In the first audio clip titled "Episode 1", a man assumed to be the Tourism Minister heavily criticizes Health Minister Ameen and described him as 'incompetent'. He can be heard mocking the fact that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had praised the health minister over his efforts in dealing with the global coronavirus outbreak.
In the second clip, the person assumed to be the tourism minister speaks in foul language in reference to Education Minister Dr Aishath Ali. In the third clip, a voice assumed to be that of Transport Minister Aishath Nahula can also be heard. It is believed that the tourism minister called up the spouse of his party's leader MP Gasim Ibrahim, put the call on speakerphone, and spoke to her in a flirtatious manner.
In the fourth clip, discussions on corruption and dishonest dealings involving both the tourism minister and state minister Assad can be heard. The fifth leak is more explicit. Speaking in degrading terms in reference to women, the voices can be heard discussing immoral acts. The voice assumed to be that of the Tourism Minister spoke of unprincipled behaviour he allegedly engaged in with Transport Minister Nahula and spoke of 'immoral requests' made by the transport minister.
The police said no reports of the audio clips have been made at the police, however, they are pursuing an investigation on their own accord as criminal activities were discussed in the clips.
Following the first leak, Minister Waheed has claimed the clips were 'fake', and that it was an attempt to defame him. He has also called to investigate the matter.
Minister Ali Waheed and State Minister Assad
