The current government is working to make bribery and corruption commonplace in Maldivian society, said opposition Adhaalath Party’s deputy leader Ali Zahir.

At a talk-show on Raajje Television, Zahir said that the government’s blatant disregard for accusations made against it and its failure to prosecute those culpable in major corruption cases lend strength to this statement.

He further said that while President Abdulla Yameen denied culpability in various corruption allegations that his former deputy, jailed Vice President Ahmed Adeeb, had been implicated in – such acts are still ongoing.

Zahir further said that President Yameen has proved himself to be more concerned with acquiring the funds that were embezzled in the corruption scandal involving the state-operated Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation, as opposed to being motivated to impose sanctions against such offenses.