Former Maldive Gas MD slapped with 12-year prison sentence
Former Maldive Gas Managing Director Abdulla Maumoon was sentenced to over 12 years in prison for bribery charges
Abdulla Maumoon served as the former Managing Director of Maldive Gas during Yameen's tenure.
Abdulla Maumoon, the former Managing Director of Maldive Gas during President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's administration, has been convicted of bribery and sentenced to over 12 years in prison.
The case, submitted to the Criminal Court on 18 April 2024, centers on allegations that 3DH International, a supplier of Maldive Gas, transferred funds to Abdulla Maumoon, members of his family, and companies allegedly linked to him. The transactions took place during his tenure as MD from 10 December 2013 – 16 November 2018.
Maumoon, a resident of H. Henveyrufehi, was charged with seven counts of bribery under Section 510(a) of the Maldives Penal Code (Law No. 9/2014), with reference to subsection (b). Each charge carries a basic sentence of three years, two months, and 12 days of imprisonment.
The Prosecutor General’s Office (PG Office) confirmed that verdicts have been delivered for two of the seven charges. Maumoon was found guilty on both counts and handed a combined prison sentence of 12 years, nine months, and 18 days. The remaining five charges are still pending, with verdicts to be issued at a later date.
The conviction marks a significant development in ongoing efforts to address high-level corruption within state-owned enterprises. However, it also raises broader concerns about the lack of transparency and oversight during previous administrations, particularly in relation to procurement contracts and the abuse of public office for personal enrichment.
As the remaining charges await adjudication, this case adds to the growing list of corruption-related convictions tied to the Yameen-era government, underlining persistent structural weaknesses in public sector governance and accountability.
