State withholding money is preventing PPM from paying debt, says party
PPM is also indebted to other companies and private parties
PPM secretary general Matheen with party leader Yameen
The state is withholding MVR 8.6 million owed to Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), which is preventing the party from paying off national airline Maldivian, says secretary general Abdul Matheen Mohamed.
Speaking to RaajjeMV, the secretary general said that PPM is also indebted to other companies and private parties as well.
On February 3, the Civil Court ordered the former ruling party to pay Maldivian MVR 3.8 million within 15 days.
The money is in relation to PPM chartering flights from the national airline on credit, to transport its supporters to a mass rally held for party leader and then-President Abdulla Yameen’s 2018 re-election campaign.
Matheen said they wish to pay the debt in time and that the party is willing to file a lawsuit if the finance ministry keeps withholding the MVR 8.6 million.
He also criticized the court’s verdict, saying that the state should pay the money owed to PPM before focusing on its debt.
Maldivian’s parent company Island Aviation earlier requested the Elections Commission to cut the money PPM owes from the fund it receives from the state. However, the commission stated that it does not have the authority to do so.
