Maldives Police Service (MPS) has summoned former President Abdulla Yameen for questioning over the corruption scandal of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). Some media outlets cited former President Yameen's legal representatives as saying he was questioned regarding the lease of Aarah, Vaavu Atoll.
In May, MPS forwarded charges against former President Yameen over the embezzlement of 1 million US dollars during the lease of Aarah, Vaavu Atoll, for resort development. Aarah, which is located near Thinadhoo in Vaavu Atoll, had been leased to a private company when it was taken back and handed over to the Felidhoo Island Council in 2015. The island was later handed over to a company called 2G Maldives Private Limited, before leasing the island again to a foreign company. The embezzlement of funds acquired from the lease of Aarah was uncovered during the investigation of the corruption scandal of MMPRC.
Former President Yameen is already serving a five-year prison sentence, after the Criminal Court of the Maldives found him guilty of laundering USD 1 million received as the acquisition cost for the lease of Vodamula, Gaafu Alifu Atoll, for resort development through MMPRC. He is also currently under trial for another case of money laundering and accepting USD 1.1 million in bribes for the lease of Fuhgiri, Raa Atoll, for resort development through MMPRC.