Dr. Mohamed Shainee, fisheries minister and a senior official of the outgoing administration, has left abroad with his family.

The Minister flew to Sri Lanka with his wife and two children on Tuesday evening.

This comes at a time when senior government officials are being accused of funneling large amounts of cash out of the country during the transition process.

Some on social media have claimed that these senior officials will soon begin leaving Maldives, and Kendhoo MP Ali Hussain has requested the police to investigate these allegations.

Minister Shainee had initially refused to help the Director General of Transition to ensure a smooth transfer of government to president-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration. However, the minister later promised to cooperate.

Shainee had played an active role in promoting and defending President Abdulla Yameen’s government in the international community. He was also the government’s representative during its negotiations with the opposition.