Moosa Zameer, the former Tourism Minister in the administration of President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, has said that he deposited USD 1 million to the bank account of the former President, Abdulla Yameen.

He made the statement while testifying in court today at the ongoing hearing in the money laundering trial against the former President.

Answering the question of whether a financial transaction with President Yameen had occurred in 2018 by the prosecution, Zameer answered that he had deposited USD 1 million to President Yameen's account. Explaining this further, Zameer noted that he had deposited the money to President Yameen's account upon his request and that the money was obtained through the sale of a personal belonging.

However, Zameer noted that he was rather late to deposit the money and that the President had never contacted him even though the deadline was past due. He added that then Legal Affairs Minister at the President's Office, Azima Shukoor had contacted him regarding the delay to which he told her that she will be notified once the deposit was made.

Zameer further noted that he was not aware as to what the money was going to be used for and added that the President had never told him about it either. He however did assume that the money would be used for personal use.