MDP MP Ali Waheed summoned to police

Police have summoned Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Deputy Leader of Parliamentary Group and MP Ali Waheed for questioning over a corruption case involving his mother bought a house in Hulhumale’ for MVR7.9 million.

Both police, and Ali Waheed himself, confirmed with local media that he was summoned to police last night (14 September) but police declined to provide further information.

Ali Waheed has told the local newspapers that he had not been insincere to the money of citizens and he denied the allegations against him.

On February 20, 2013, police declared they were investigating a corruption case involving Ali Waheed in which his mother purchased a land in Male’ for MVR 7.938 million (US$514,000) in October 2011.

At the time, President of the ACC Hassan Luthfee confirmed the institution was also investigating a case concerning the Thoddoo MP.

“We have earlier received complaints regarding the MP taking bribes following his defection from the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) to the MDP. There were also claims that he utilised the money he received as bribes to buy a house. We are investigating the matter,” Luthfee said.

In May 2011, Ali Waheed switched sides from DRP to MDP claiming a lack of internal democracy within his former party.

In August 2011, Ali Waheed won a beachfront house for MVR4.6 million (US$300,000), bidding MVR3,020 per square foot. At the same time, Ali Waheed’s wife also won a house from the 36 beachfront residential plots on Hulhumale, bidding Rf 3,020 per square foot, for Rf 4,749,651 (US$310,000).

Waheed and his wife were the third highest bidders for the property, under the Hulhulmale Development Corporation’s (HDC) housing programme.