Reports have surfaced that former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, who lost his bid for re-election in the September ballots by a large margin, had informed the Elections Commission that MVR 22.5 million had been spent for his campaign.

RaajjeMV understands that the former President had shared a details report of his spending to the Elections Commission, which states that he had spent MVR 22.5 million for the presidential campaign.

Yameen was summoned to the police headquarters for questioning at 2pm on Saturday, after which he talked to the press outside the premises.

The former President stated that he had not spent more than MVR 22.5 million for his campaign during the Presidential Election period.

“The law allows up to MVR 400 billion to be spent. That is MVR 2,000 per head for about 20,000 voters. This amounts up to MVR 400 million. Ask yourselves if MVR 20 million is enough for a Presidential Election. I do not believe it is such a big amount” said the former President.

The Presidential Elections Act states that all candidates vying for Presidency must submit an audit report of campaign preparations, finances and all financial matters to the Elections Commission within 60 days after which they will be governed by the Elections Commission.

RaajjeMV also understands that Yameen had spent up to MVR 4.8 million alone on Maldivian airways for campaign trips throughout the outlying atolls.