Sun Siyam Private Limited (Sun) has denied money laundering charges raised against the company.
The Prosecutor General’s Office raised charges against Sun group’s Sun Construction and Engineering, Sun Investment, jailed former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom and an individual named Ahmed Krik Riza who are accused of corruption offences relating to the leasing of R. Fuggiri island to be developed as a resort island.
President Yameen is alleged to have received bribes amounting to US$ 1,117,000 through an individual named Ahmed Krik Riza, and is accused of laundering the funds via Sun Construction and Engineering, and Sun Investments.
The Prosecutor General's Office charged the former president with money laundering and bribery, money laundering and bribery charges against Ahmed Krik Riza, and money laundering charges against Sun Construction and Engineering, Sun Investment. PG said the charges have been forwarded to the Criminal Court following a joint investigation by the police, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Presidential Commission on State Assets Recovery.
The two companies have issued two separate statements regarding the issue. As per the two statements, the companies were not aware of any corruption involved in leasing Fuggiri, and neither was involved in any such cases. It stressed that the Sun is not involved in any criminal offence.
While years have passed since the corruption case of Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC), focusing the investigation on Sun instead of the true perpetrators of the crime reveals the twisted direction the case is heading, it further said.
Sun Siyam Private Limited is owned by prominent businessman and politician Ahmed Siyam who is also a parliament member and leader of Maldives Development Alliance (MDA).
Owner of Sun SIYAM, Ahmed Siyam Mohamed (L) with former President Yameen Abdul Qayyoom (M)
