SOF money transfers to several top lawmakers!

Anti-Corruption Commission’s investigative report into the MMPRC embezzlement case reveals SOF Private Limited – the company implicated in laundering the embezzled funds – made money transfers to several of the country’s top lawmakers.

ACC, which published the investigative report in 2017, released it to the public this Thursday morning.

The report identifies several lawmakers who were transferred money from SOF Private Limited; including Deputy Speaker and Hulhu-Henveyru MP Reeko Moosa Manik, Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed, and Th. Guraidhoo MP Hussain Manik Dhonmanik.

SOF’S TRANSFERS TO CURRENT LAWMAKERS:

• Hulhu-Henveyru MP Reeko Moosa Manik: USD 100,000 (MVR 1,542,000)
• Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed: USD 424,255 (MVR 6,542,012)
• Th. Guraidhoo MP Hussain Manik Dhonmanik: USD 250,000 (MVR 3,855,000)

The total money transfers to the three lawmakers amount to USD 774,255 (over MVR 11 million).

SOF in alhugandah evves faisaa eh dheefa nuonnaane !

— Riyaz Rasheed (@riyaz_rasheed) February 14, 2019

Riyaz Rasheed has issued a denial of ever receiving money from SOF Private Limited.

Money was also transferred to then-South Galolhu MP Ahmed Mahloof, who is now the Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment.

• Alhuganduge accountah jamaakoffaivaa $33000 aai gulhey gothun alhuganduge bayaan.
•Viyafaari koffaivaa receipt.
•ACC ah alhugandu fonuvi sitee adhi ACC inn alhugandah dhevvaafaivaa javaabu.

Vahkameh koffa noanaane adhi massala belumahfahu goaheh ulheynama isthiufaa dheynan. pic.twitter.com/WvAFAT7ge2

— Ahmed Mahloof (@AhmedMahloof) February 14, 2019

Mahloof has issued a statement claiming no involvement in the embezzlement scam. He said the USD 33,000 (MVR 508,860) was a legitimate business transaction - purchase of US dollars for a shop run by one of his family members.

He has shared the receipt of the transaction, his letter to the ACC’s investigators and the response of the ACC via his official Twitter account.

Mahloof has vowed to step down from his post as Minister if found guilty of involvement after investigation.