Former Deputy Minister of Finance, Hassan Zamir has said that the government is trying to destroy the Jumhooree Party leader and Villa Group’s Chairman, Gasim Ibrahim to lead thousands of people to poverty.
Zamir said that it is for this reason that the government is trying to get 100 million dollars from Gasim through Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA).
“Before the conclusion of the trial MIRA can freeze all the accounts of Villa Group. If that happens then all those who are students abroad under Gasim’s scholarship will have to stop their studies and come back. Many who are receiving financial help from Gasim for their medication will have to stop their medication. Thousands will not get their salaries. Thousands of people will be devastated,” he said.
Zamir noted that Gasim Ibrahim is a recipient of MIRA’s “Golden Coin” in 2014, which is given to those businesses that do not default on payments to the state, and for those who garner the most income to the state.
He said that it is not logical to make such an accusation that Gasim has 100 million dollars due payment when the government itself gave such an award to him.
Meanwhile, Jumhooree Party stated that advance payments made by Gasim’s companies have been withheld by the state for no reason while the government has made baseless accusations against him. The party also stated that the lagoons released as compensation, for which Gasim’s companies made advance payments, have now been sequestered unjustly by the state.
Jumhooree Party called on the board of MIRA to refrain from giving into political pressure and called on the board to be steadfast in opposing such fraudulent and immoral commands by the government.
The party stated that they are well informed of the tactics of the current government to assassinate the character of political leaders including Former Defence Minister Colonel (retired) Mohamed Nazim by framing him and his wife of possessing illegal weapons and also trying to frame others political leaders along with him.
Govt is trying to destroy Gasim to lead people to poverty- Zamir
