Court nullifies ex-VP's MMPRC graft conviction, orders a retrial

High Court on Thursday overturned former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb's corruption conviction regarding the embezzlement of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), and ordered a retrial.

A hearing in the case was held on Thursday morning.

Adeeb was found guilty of embezzling USD five million (MVR 77 million) owed to the state as the acquisition cost of Maabinhuraa in Lhaviyani atoll, after leasing Kurehdhoo Holdings Pvt Ltd through MMMPRC, in 2016; he was sentenced to eight years in prison.

In its verdict, the court cited the controversial order issued by the Supreme Court on 1st February 2018, which ordered the release of nine high-profile political prisoners including Adeeb. While certain clauses of the order were annulled shortly after, the High Court noted that clauses regarding politically motivated verdicts still remains.

Hence, it noted the possibility of both the defendant and judges being influenced in the case, and ordered a new trial.

However, the judge’s bench disagreed on this.

Chief Judge Shujau Usman and Judge Hussain Shaheed agreed to overturn the Criminal Court verdict, and to order a new trial. Judge Hussain Zakariyya argued that there was sufficient evidence to find the former VP guilty, highlighting that the court had maintained the verdicts on his acquaintances’- MMPRC former managing director Abdulla Ziyath and businessman Hamid Ismail- in the same case; Ziyath was sentenced to eight years and Hamid to two years.

Following Thursday’s ruling, all convictions against the former VP have been nullified.

The Supreme Court overturned his 15-year sentence over the explosion aboard the presidential speedboat on May 20- and ordered a retrial- while the Supreme Court nullified the 10-year sentence on a weapons possession charge earlier this week.

However, the Criminal Court had sentenced Adeeb to an additional 15 days in prison over contempt of court, this January. While court regulations state that an individual with multiple convictions will serve a consecutive sentence, starting from the longest to shortest, Adeeb’s 15-day sentence will commence on Thursday.

The former vice president’s attorney Ismail Ahmed said that he believes that the 15-day order will also be nullified along with the rest, as Adeeb has served at least three years in jail.

In addition, the May 20 verdict ordered to keep him in detention for 15 days, in which the Criminal Court is to decide on his detention.

Lawyer Ismail emphasized that Adeeb will be “a free man” after the 15-day period ordered by the High Court, but noted that this case is yet to be filed at the Criminal Court.

Adeeb is still under house arrest, since being transferred earlier this year.