MALE, Dec 16 (Reuters): Police in the Maldives said they have frozen the bank accounts of former president Abdulla Yameen as they investigate allegations by state bodies that he
conducted "illicit" deals, some involving Chinese infrastructure projects, whilst leader.
Yameen lost a presidential election in September and the new government of his successor, Mohammed Ibrahim Solih, seen as close to India, has been trying to determine the extent of Chinese loans used to finance a construction boom in the Indian Ocean archipelago.
The police said on Saturday a total of 100 million Maldivian Rufiyaa ($6.58 million) have been frozen as a part of the investigations.
Yameen has denied any wrongdoing and said that he took on loans to accelerate economic development. He could not be contacted on Saturday.
"We have noticed that several large transfers of money were conducted along with other transactions during the presidency... in bank accounts operated under his name," the statement said.
"Yameen answered all questions posed to him during today's questioning and said that he will fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation," it added.
