ACC questions ex-President Maumoon over Theemuge audit reports
Former President Maumoon, via twitter, said that ACC investigators had visited him today
Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was questioned over 2007 Theemuge audit reports on Tuesday
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has questioned former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom over the audit reports of the official Presidential Residence during the former President's tenure.
Maumoon, via twitter, revealed that investigators from the Commission had visited him on Tuesday.
"I answered the questions arising from the 2007 audit reports and gave them a signed statement," said the former President.
ACC had, back in June, sent a letter to former President Maumoon, stating that they required a statement from him regarding the 2007 and 2008 audit reports for Theemuge. While the Commission had asked the former President to provide a convenient time, and that they will send a team to his residence for questioning.
However, Maumoon had then said that he will go to the ACC to give his statement and that "the media must be there so the whole country will see and hear".
"The people have a right to know," he added.
Following the summoning, Maumoon tweeted that he has "done nothing that would come under purview of the ACC," emphasizing that he has "nothing to hide".
ACC has launched an investigation into the case 10 years later.
Maumoon's son, Dhiggaru constituency MP Ahmed Faris Maumoon had also been investigated on the same matter. While he had been summoned to the ACC and the Maldives Police Service a number of times, the Prosecutor General's Office had decreed the statute of limitations on the case had expired and that he cannot be prosecuted in the case.
Clause 61 of the Penal Code states that the statute of limitations of criminal cases is an eight-year period, with three years for misdemeanors.
The Commission's investigation comes after former President Maumoon withdrew support for his half-brother, incumbent President Abdulla Yameen's administration. Both brothers have been involved ina public dispute since June 2016, and the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has since been divided into two factions.
