Public Urges President Muizzu to Remove Waheed as Special Envoy Over Epstein Links

The public has urged President Dr Mohamed Muizzu to dismiss him as a Special Envoy of the President, after the recently released Epstein Files by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) linked him to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.

On 26 May 2025, he appointed Waheed as a Special Envoy of the President. Waheed does not receive any state remuneration in this role.

However, as a former president, he is entitled to benefits under the Former Presidents’ Protection and Benefit Act. Those who served a single term receive a monthly allowance of MVR 50,000, while presidents who served more than one term are entitled to MVR 75,000. Spouses of former presidents are also eligible for state-funded security and health insurance, and the state may provide up to MVR 50,000 per month to cover living expenses.

President Muizzu ratified an amendment to the act on 6 December 2025, restricting some of the benefits previously granted to former presidents.

The recently released DOJ documents, published under the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405), mention Waheed in 649 records. Email exchanges included in the documents indicate that Waheed and Epstein met on multiple occasions and discussed the potential sale of Innareha Island. Waheed reportedly refused to proceed with the sale, stating in one email that “the island is too beautiful to be ‘sold’ to just anyone.”

The files also contain communications from 2011–2012 involving Ian Osborne, who ran the PR firm Osborne & Partners and helped design a strategy to rehabilitate Epstein’s public image. In one note, Epstein commented on Waheed, saying: “Dr Waheed is well educated and a really good guy… therefore does not fall into my more favourite category of dictators. Actually believes in democracy. Can you believe it?”

According to the released files, in September 2012, Waheed met Epstein along with a Maldivian delegation. In January 2013, Epstein asked Swedish diplomat Lisa Emelia Svensson if she would be willing to work with Waheed, who was then serving as president and running for re-election.

Despite Waheed’s documented correspondence with Epstein, there is no evidence that he participated in any of the sex trafficking crimes Epstein was accused of.

Public calls for action come amid concerns that state benefits and official appointments should not be granted to individuals linked to convicted criminals, even when no criminal activity by the individual is established. Citizens have urged President Muizzu to consider revoking Waheed’s monthly allowance, security and health coverage, and to remove him from his role as Special Envoy.

The government has not yet commented on whether it will act on the public calls or review Waheed’s current privileges.