Former President Abdulla Yameen has made the word “thief” the centerpiece of his political comeback. At rallies in Malé, his speeches echo with accusations: ministers are thieves, officials are thieves, governments are thieves.

But critics argue the relentless branding is less about exposing corruption and more about deflecting from his own record.

Since being freed pending retrial on money-laundering charges, Yameen has declared President Mohamed Muizzu’s administration “the most corrupt in Maldivian history.” Yet beyond fiery speeches, little evidence has been presented.

“It’s projection, plain and simple,” said Ahmed Shafeeq, a Malé-based lawyer. “The man who presided over the MMPRC scandal is now branding others as thieves. It’s a dangerous game.”

The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) graft scandal, which erupted under Yameen’s presidency, remains the country’s largest corruption case. Investigators estimate at least USD 90 million was siphoned off from state coffers, with USD 1 million traced directly to Yameen’s personal account.

For many Maldivians, that scandal defines him. “Every time he talks, he calls others thieves — but people still remember,” said Ibrahim, a taxi driver in the capital. “To us, he is the thief.”

Analysts say Yameen’s rhetoric mirrors a global playbook. Adolf Hitler accused Jews of robbing Germany while his regime plundered Europe. Joseph Stalin denounced rivals as traitors while consolidating power. In the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos promised reform while secretly amassing billions offshore.

“The louder a leader shouts ‘thief,’ the more it often hides their own guilt,” said political analyst Mariyam Haleem.

The strategy also recalls scenes from Bollywood’s Raid films, where corrupt politicians scream about conspiracies until hidden black money pours out of walls. Yameen’s fiery delivery, critics say, resembles such cinematic performances — more show than substance.

As President Muizzu faces scrutiny over debt and governance, Yameen is betting his accusatory tone will resonate with frustrated voters. But his comeback effort remains shadowed by the scandals of his rule.

At the ballot box, Maldivians will decide whether his cries of “thief” are a call for justice or simply the oldest trick in politics.