Criminal Court has ordered to seize former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb’s passport.

The order was issued following a request from the Maldives Police Service.

While the state had raised charges against the former VP in relation to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption, the Criminal Court rejected all seven charges on Tuesday on the grounds that a plea bargain signed between him and the state ‘was entered unlawfully’.

Denying this during a press conference held on Tuesday evening, Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem had announced the decision to request an order to withhold his passport.

The PG stressed the importance of the order, highlighting Adeeb is a flight risk given that he had attempted to flee previously as well.

The seven charges against Adeeb were; two cases of involvement in corruption, two cases of using his position to gain undue benefits, two charges of money-laundering as well as an abuse of power charge.

The state will appeal the decision freeing Adeeb, at the High Court.