Nasheed 'discloses' new information on Yameen’s illegal oil trade case

Former President Mohamed Nasheed has said that he has disclosed new information to the Attorney General regarding former President Abdulla Yameen’s alleged involvement in illegal oil trade.

At a ceremony on Friday, Nasheed said that he was shown the information on a laptop and phone belonging to two of Yameen’s close associates while he was living in the UK.

Nasheed said that a UK firm had looked into it and gave him a report, which he in turn gave to the Attorney General. He said that he has full confidence that the new government will investigate the matter.

He noted that his administration tasked forensic accounting firm Grant Thornton with investigating Yameen’s involvement in illegal oil trade and to submit a report on 6 February 2012. However, after the abrupt end of his government, the following administration had paid off Grant Thornton with USD 10 million to stop its probe even when the case could have been taken up at the Singapore courts.

Yameen is alleged to have been involved in illegal oil trade with the Burmese military junta worth USD 800 million when he was the head of State Trading Organization (STO) during President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s administration.

A document has been leaked that showed that a case against Yameen and nine others filed at Singapore’s high court was withdrawn.