Stealing Paradise
| Stealing Paradise | |
|---|---|
 Youtube thumbnail | |
| Created by | Al Jazeera Investigations |
| Narrated by | Will Jordan |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Production locations | Maldives, United Kingdom, Singapore |
| Editor | Adrian Billing |
| Running time | 48:35 |
| Production company | Al Jazeera Media Network |
| Original release | |
| Network | Al Jazeera English |
| Release | 7 September 2016 |
Stealing Paradise is a 2016 Qatari English-language investigative documentary which exposed high-level corruption which involved former President of the Maldives Abdulla Yameen and former Vice President of the Maldives Ahmed Adeeb, produced by Al Jazeera's Investigates Unit and released on Al Jazeera English.
Description
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The documentary revealed how millions of state funds were embezzled and laundered.[1] This money was used to bribe judges, politicians, and police officials.[1] It also revealed Yameen's alleged involvement in the torching of Raajje TV, and impeded the investigation into the disappearance of Ahmed Rilwan.[2][3]
Maldivian government response
[edit]The government dismissed the documentary as 'defamatory and biased', and how the documentary didn't substantiate the allegations against Yameen.[4][5][6] The government also issued a warning over the documentary, and has introduced strict defamation laws.[7] The Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), which is the ruling party, had threatened to sue Al Jazeera over the expose.[8]
Yameen later apologized to the people after an official audit report had revealed that $79m dollars was embezzled, which was criticized by his former deputy Mohamed Jameel Ahmed.[9][10]
In 2017, president Yameen later admitted that unlawful money obtained by Adeeb entered his residence.[11] PPM later backtracked and said that Yameen's speech was misinterpreted.[12]
Award
[edit]The documentary won the Corruption Reporting Award at the One World Media ceremony.[13] Accepting the award, Will Jordan dedicated the award to Yameen Rasheed, who was murdered in front of his house.[13]
Reception
[edit]After the documentary was published, Transparency Maldives called for an independent investigation into President Yameen about the concerns raised by Al Jazeera.[14]
The Anti-Corruption Commission launched an inquiry to verify the information in the corruption exposé.[15]
Maldives Police Service raided Maldives Independent's headquarters over an 'alleged coup plot', hours after the documentary was released.[16][17] Which ended empty handed.[16][17]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Jordan, Will (7 September 2016). "Maldives: How do you launder $1.5 billion?". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Rehan, Mohamed (7 September 2016). "Maldives pres impeded probe into missing journo: Al Jazeera expose". The Edition. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Jordan, Will (7 September 2016). "Exclusive: Maldives president's corruption revealed". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Al Jazeera corruption exposé dismissed as 'defamatory and biased'". Maldives Independent. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Rehan, Mohamed (8 September 2016). "Maldives govt responds to 'biased' Al Jazeera expose". The Edition. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Rehan, Mohamed (7 September 2016). "'No evidence against pres Yameen,' Maldives govt spurns Al Jazeera expose". The Edition. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Jackson, Jasper (7 September 2016). "Maldives government issues warning over al-Jazeera documentary". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "PPM MP threatens to sue Al-Jazeera over corruption expose". Maldives Independent. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Visham, Mohamed (11 October 2016). "Maldives pres apologizes for tourism graft". The Edition. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Visham, Mohamed (11 October 2016). "'Maldives pres can't sidestep tourism graft with an apology'". The Edition. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Shaahunaz, Fathmath (15 August 2017). "Maldives pres comes clean about ex-VP's dirty money". The Edition. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ Ahmed, Farah (16 August 2017). "PPM defends Maldives pres' speech, claims it was "misinterpreted"". The Edition. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Al Jazeera expose on Maldives wins One World award". Al Jazeera English. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Transparency calls for 'broad investigation' after corruption exposé". Maldives Independent. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ "Anti-corruption watchdog launches fresh inquiry after Al Jazeera exposé". Maldives Independent. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Police raid Maldives Independent office over 'coup plot'". Maldives Independent. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2025.
- ^ a b Visham, Mohamed (7 September 2016). "Maldives police raid office of critical news website over 'coup' plot". The Edition. Retrieved 2 March 2025.