Attorneys of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has said that the funds transferred by SOF Pvt. Ltd. to President Yameen’s accounts have not been proven to be illegally obtained.

The claim was made through a statement released by the former President’s legal team. The statement informed that President Yameen does not believe that funds earned through MMPRC - and owed to the State, were transferred to his accounts at Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB). The attorneys reiterated that President Yameen is firmly of the belief that any funds that were transferred to his accounts by the company accused of doing so, were not funds that were owed to or owned by the State. The statement noted that no government institution or Court has passed a conclusion that proves that the funds were owed to the State.

President Yameen’s attorneys informed that the decision to transfer USD 1 million into an escrow account that had been created in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) was an initiative of President Yameen. As such, the attorneys noted that the ACC has not officially declared that the funds of USD 1 million transferred to President Yameen’s account at MIB by SOF were illegally obtained by the company or owed to the State.

The statement by President Yameen’s attorneys reiterated that SOF Pvt. Ltd. is a company that have conducted various businesses in Maldives. They further noted that while there are various companies and individuals that have conducted businesses with SOF Pvt. Ltd, no charges have been raised against any of these parties at this time.

President Yameen’s attorneys mentioned the statement released by Maldives Police Service following submission of case against President Yameen to the Prosecutor General's Office. The attorneys highlighted the statement by MPS claiming that, those that acquired major sums owed to the State by corruption, had taken a portion of money from the funds. The attorneys noted that the claim is not based on truth, and has not been made by MPS regarding findings obtained through an investigation by any respective institution.

President Yameen’s attorneys indicated the statement by MPS and said that the case has been filed by the government in an effort to impose influence in the upcoming Parliamentary elections. As such, the attorneys stated that implementing or maintaining laws should not specifically target any one person. The statement called on government bodies and institutions to implement the equality to all Maldivian citizens as dictated by the country’s common practices.