People’s National Congress (PNC) President Abdul Raheem Abdulla and Kelaa MP Ali Arif have admitted to lying about President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s involvement in embezzlement.

At an opposition coalition press conference on February 18, they claimed that they received report that President Solih and some members of the ruling party accepted embezzled money from Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC).

In a press release, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) stated that it has summoned two parliamentarians who claimed to have information on people involved in the MMPRC case. Without revealing their names, ACC stated that one the MPs said that he did not have any information regarding the case and that his justification for making unverified claims were that other politicians do the same.

The second MP also said that he did not have any information on who received the embezzled cash and that he made the claim for political purposes based on media reports and rumors.

In the press release, ACC noted that those in positions of responsibility have been spreading false information for political purposes and urged them to be responsible and refrain from misleading the public.