Hearing on two counts of charges against ex-VP cancelled

The hearing on two counts of charges raised against former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor has been cancelled.

The hearing was set to begin at 2pm on Sunday at the Criminal Court.

A reason for the cancellation was not disclosed.

The hearing was regarding a charge of using his position unduly and charges of money-laundering. Several counts of terrorism charges have also been raised against the former Vice President.

As such, two hearings in corruption charges raised against Adeeb were scheduled and cancelled earlier this month on 21 and 14 January, following a request from the defense.

However, Adeeb’s legal team failed to answer calls from the station when RaajjeMV attempted to reach out for a comment.

While the case was lodged at the Criminal Court during September 2019, new charges of corruption were raised on the ex-VP for a failed attempt at fleeing via an Indian tugboat. He was sentenced to three months and 18 days over the issue, and the sentence has now been completed.

The former VP remains in police custody owing to a court order to keep him in remand until the cases of corruption against him, conclude.

Adeeb attempted to flee during August 2019 while he was on medical leave at a time, he had been transferred under house arrest due to his deteriorating health.

Adeeb was serving a 33-year sentence on several counts of terrorism; embezzling USD five million owed to the state as the acquisition cost of Maabinhuraa island of Lhaviyani Atoll, being in possession of a weapon and involvement in the presidential speedboat blast during ex-President Abdulla Yameen’s administration.