The trial of Ahmed Moosa Mohamed, the Managing Director of Sealife Global who is being charged over the Sealife housing scam, is set for Sunday.

The hearing is scheduled to begin at the Criminal Court, at 9:30am on Sunday.

Mohamed, native to Thinadhoo island in Vaavu atoll, who faces allegations of defrauding nearly 300 people, after collecting payments from them for apartments allocated within the first phase of a housing project, was extradited to the Maldives on March 24. Interpol confirmed Mohamed’s arrest from neighboring Sri Lanka, to the Maldives Police Service (MPS) during February 2021 in connection to the scam.

Maldivian police pursued an Interpol red notice to locate Mohamed during April 2019. The accused is a close associate of now incarcerated former President Abdulla Yameen and was believed to be living in Sri Lanka when the red notice accusing him of defraud and forgery, was out in late April 2019.

The five-year project between the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and Sealife Global was announced back in 2014 and is a joint venture between the company and two Dubai firms. Under the agreement, Sealife was tasked with developing 3,000 housing units in Hulhumalé, they had earlier announced several dates on when the flats would be completed, however, they failed to start any work on the construction of these flats.

The Prosecutor’s Office charged Mohamed with 42 criminal offenses in May 31. These charges carry a sentence of up to 65 years in prison, if Mohamed is found guilty.

In June, the Criminal Court had ordered his release with two stipulations; to remain in the capital until his trial is over and not to leave the country. This came despite the state having requested to keep him in remand until sentencing. PG Office had appealed this verdict, as Mohamed is still deemed a flight risk.

Cases were filed by prominent lawyer Mariyam Shunana, at Maldives Police Service and the Anti-Corruption Commission as early as October 2018. It was also lodged with the Civil Court and the presidential inquiry commission on corruption and asset recovery which launched probes into the allegations, during March 2019.

Mohamed fled the country after issues in launching the project, without reimbursing the tenants, in turn violating agreements made with locals to sell properties being constructed.

The initial agreement between the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and the government was to reimburse the nearly 300 tenants who had paid for apartments in 3,000 housing units. Most of the tenants had given both the booking fee as well as the down payment.