President’s Office desk auctioned after severe termite damage
23 އޯގަސްޓު 2026 | އާދީއްތަ 10:55The government has clarified that the desk recently auctioned by the President's Office was not an official desk used by former presidents, but rather a piece of furniture sold off in accordance with standard procedures after becoming infested with woodworms. According to the government spokesperson, the official presidential desks remain at the President's Office, and the individual who purchased the auctioned item added the state emblem to it privately.
Auction of a desk from the President's Office. | X
The government has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that the President's Office sold a desk used by five former Maldivian presidents for 12,500 MVR, labeling the allegations as false and baseless.
In response to inquiries from RaajjeMV regarding the matter, Government Spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundu) stated that the official desks used by former presidents remain at the President's Office and that none of them have been put up for auction.
The spokesperson clarified that the desks recently put up for auction were not the official desks used by presidents. He noted that the items were instead tables occasionally brought out for use during various agreement signing ceremonies.
Shareef further stated that the desk had to be put up for auction in accordance with established regulations, following a determination that it was damaged beyond repair.
Providing further details regarding the decision to auction the table, the spokesperson stated that the piece had become infested with woodworms and was damaged beyond repair. He further noted that the state emblem on the table had been removed and disposed of in accordance with official regulations prior to the auction.
However, the individual who purchased the table at auction has since refurbished and restored it. Government spokesperson Mohamed Hussain Shareef further noted that the buyer had also independently affixed the state emblem to the table.
This issue gained traction on social media at a time when the government is facing widespread public criticism over allegations that a table of significant historical value was sold for a very low price.
