Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) has uncovered fresh evidence that implicates Maldives' incumbent president in the biggest corruption scheme in the country's history.

OCCRP published its report on the 'audacious multi-million-dollar scheme' on Tuesday after a thorough investigation into over 50 islands and submerged coral lagoons leased in-between 2014 and 2015.

The report reveals that these island leases were obtained 'often at hugely discounted prices without public tender'.

While President Abdulla Yameen has faced corruption allegations for years, the massive corruption carried out through the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) was first revealed in an award-winning exposé by Al Jazeera in 2016.

OCCRP's investigation, based on internal tourism ministry documents and leaks including from Yameen's former right-hand man Ahmed Adeeb's phones, showed that the president intervened to help clear 'at least 24 deals' to lease islands to tourism companies and that he was 'also personally involved in direct discussions about at least one of those deals'.

"By comparison, just over 100 resorts had been built in the country over the previous four decades," reads the report.

While the report implicates scores of companies and individuals, it listed out names of those who benefitted from the leases, local and international, including Singaporean hotelier Ong Beng Seng.

Messages leaked from Adeeb's phone showed that the Seng had showered both Adeeb and President Yameen with 'gifts of luxury hotel accommodation'. Other foreign beneficiaries, as per OCCRP's report, include publicly-listed Sri Lankan conglomerate Aitken Spence, Soneva, Lars Petre, Lanka Orix Leasing Company, Belluna and more.

Local companies and individuals that benefitted from these deals include, Universal Enterprises, Champa Brothers and Crown Company Ahmed Siyam Mohamed.  

"Universal Enterprises: A diverse conglomerate headed by family patriarch Mohamed Umar Maniku, one of the first people to bring mass tourism to the Maldives in the 1970s. The family firm operates eight resorts under its Universal Resorts division. Leaked files show that members of the Maniku family and linked companies obtained three islands via no-bid deals.

Champa Brothers and Crown Company: These intertwined companies are among the biggest tourism operators in the Maldives. Between them, they own more than a dozen operational and forthcoming hotels and resorts, the majority via the Crown & Champa brand. Along with Swedish businessman Lars Petre, the companies obtained at least five questionable leases during Adeeb’s tenure, mostly via joint venture schemes with the government.

Ahmed Siyam Mohamed: Siyam is a member of parliament who heads the Maldives Development Alliance party, a coalition partner of President Abdulla Yameen. Under his umbrella company, Sun Siyam, he owns three current and one forthcoming resort in the Maldives, as well as a Sri Lankan hotel. The leaked files show Siyam’s companies obtained two no-bid leases during Adeeb’s term for a total of $500,000."

Then Auditor General Ahmed Niyaz had brought the matter to the president's attention, suspecting corruption in then Vice Presidet Adeeb's dealings and even publishing a report. However, instead of looking into the matter, Yameen had opted to remove Niyaz from his position, accusing him of 'unprofessionalism, and of being biased against his government',

While President Yameen did admit to receiving USD one million through MMPRC, he has put all the blame on Adeeb, the commercial banks and the central bank.

However, he did admit that islands are leased after approval from the President's Office, highlighting that the issue is not with leasing islands, rather 'what happened to the proceeds'.

President Yameen's spokesperson Ibrahim Muaz Ali declined to comment directly on the matter, and told RaajjeMV that 'relevant authorities will respond accordingly' after reviewing the report.