Police have begun investigating a threatening phone call from MP Ahmed Siyam to a former employee at his Vilu Reef resort who was sacked last month.
The ex-resort worker, Hussan Yousuf, submitted the case to police last week with an audio recording of the phone conversation.
In the approximately three-minute long clip shared with local media, the resort tycoon – owner of the Sun Travels & Tours group and leader of the government-aligned Maldives Development Alliance – is heard threatening to “destroy” Yousuf, claiming that he was out to harm Siyam’s business interests.
“Is it because you want to go to jail that you’re trying to destroy my business?” a voice that appears to be Siyam’s is heard saying.
A punishment from God such as paralysis could befall Yousuf as a result of challenging or confronting Siyam, he suggests.
In response, Yousuf tells the resort magnate that he was seeking his rights and refers to a petition signed by over 150 staff listing their grievances.
“Let me tell you, you don’t have any rights, [Vilu Reef] is not your place,” Siyam replies, claiming that Yousuf begged for a job at the resort.
Siyam further warned the dismissed employee that he could exercise the power of the government to incarcerate Yousuf.
“If you keep pestering me like this I can send my team to really pester you. If you try to harm my business I will destroy you. [God] will not even give any money in this life to an evil devil like you. Woe on you, evil devil,” Siyam is heard saying before hanging up the phone.
Yousuf meanwhile told opposition-aligned private broadcaster Raajje TV that Siyam’s threats have caused psychological distress to him and his family.
Police told Yousuf that the threats would be investigated as a serious case, he said.
The MP for Dhaal Meedhoo – reelected in the March 22 parliamentary polls – is also currently on trial for alcohol smuggling and possession after a liquor bottle was discovered by customs officers at the airport upon his return from an overseas trip in March 2012.
At the last hearing of the case in March, Siyam denied the charges at the Criminal Court.
Meanwhile, following the presentation of the staff petition to the Vilu Reef management last month, 18 employees were fired and given an hour to leave the island.
Tourism Employees Association of Maldives (TEAM) Secretary General Mauroof Zakir told Minivan News that the association would assist the staff in taking the case to the Employment Tribunal, though he felt there would be “no hope” for a fair case.
“Shiyam is very strong here,” he noted, “one of the partners of the government.”
“Since 2012 the decisions are against international standards and international best practice,” he added. “It’s all corrupt judiciary, and High Court decisions against employment cases are one of the key factors.”
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PPM will take care of everything! It's a new dawn for Maldivians!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaGUr6wzyT8
P.S. It's all MDP/GMR's fault that workers think they have "rights". PPM will get everyone back in line. Bend over and take it or go to jail... democracy is beautiful!
Shiyam never forced to work them for free and never forced to work on his Island.
They have been given what was agreed in then contract and what else they want ?
Team can not demand to pay more than what was agreed by both parties .
If i don't like to work in the resort that I am currently working, I will resign and will go else where to work .
I got involved with team during 2009 One and Only strike and later I realized that it was purely a political stunt.
I got sacked just because I was asked and TEAM used us to bring a different picture to the industry.
TEAM talks about the rights of employees but thier real motive is to be political issue.
Easa was heading the TEAM at that time and when the guy got elected as MP, he started playing a different game.
Since then I am working in a resort now at a senior management level and i am happy for what i am doing . But i will never support team and its political agenda .
Hero is a fan of this maniac,isnt this tru bro hero
HeroKruibee said, "TEAM talks about the rights of employees but thier real motive is to be political issue."
But my dear child, employee rights is a political issue, because human rights is a political issue. Now shut up and eat your vegetables, or you're grounded!
PPM is a gangster party, and they will support their gansgter friends like Siyam. See how Siyam is using threats of imprisonment? That's one of the perks of being friends with the Gayooms! As we all know the Gayooms have a decades old tradition of sending people they dislike to jail.
Here is the World famous song - sung by a Maldivian Lady with an extraordenery soothing voice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf43_y2MGZw
I Am Sailing - ..... to be near you, to be free
People are the best asset. Everyone says. Every CEO says. Every government says.
What a load of crap! I guess it's part of the facade and wooing needed by the employees to milk the workers dry.
If some one is not a criminal he don't know how to use those words.
I would hate to be an employee at Hero's resort! Probably one of the low end properties owned by a Maldivian politician.
I can't picture Hero holding a management position somewhere like Four Seasons, Shangri La, Taj, etc. The type of place where staff (including management) is expected to work and provide actual customer service.
Mr. Hero!
What is your motive, and who are you trying to fool?
i am not trying to fool anyone.
Team gets geared up when Nasheed voice gets diluted in the media and when Nasheed become useless.
Team is being used by Nasheed and his cronies for their personal gain.
Team had done nothing to protect the rights of employees and all they have done is make some selected individual to become famous and to pave the ways for those individual to become a knowns figure in politics and nothing else.
I don't care how much the MINIVAN propaganda machines and the people who makes comments in favor of MINIVAN says and i will continue to write my comments and will tell the truth .
I will not be a puppet of some idiots.
President Sun Siyam of the Peoples Democratic Republic of Vilureef, a peek into the future, real president material.
"I will not be a puppet of some idiots." -Hero
Too late bro!