Maldives former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after having been found guilty of the seven counts of charges in connection to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) embezzlement case.
The Criminal Court held the sentencing hearing at 6pm Monday, where Adeeb was also slapped with a fine totaling MVR two million.
The former VP has been given a period of one month to pay up the fine.
Given that Adeeb had pleaded guilty, the state prosecutor had urged to fast-track the verdict despite the court having initially scheduled a verdict hearing for October 12.
During a preliminary hearing held last Wednesday, the former VP had pleaded guilty to the seven charges raised against him.
The seven charges raised against Adeeb are two counts of involvement in corruption, two counts of using his position to gain undue benefits, two charges of money-laundering as well as an abuse of power charge.
Reflecting on his health as well as cooperation in the investigations into the MMPRC corruption scandal, Adeeb also requested the judges to provide leniency to his sentencing during the arraignment hearing.
Adeeb was convicted as follows:
- Count one on involvement in corruption: four years, nine months and 18 days in jail,
- Count two on involvement in corruption: two years, four months and 24 days in jail,
- Count one on misusing his official authority to gain undue benefits: six months in jail,
- Count two on misusing his official authority to gain undue benefits: three months in jail,
- Count one on money laundering: five years, 11 months and 21 days in jail and a MVR one million fine,
- Using his position to gain undue benefits: one month and 15 days in jail and
- Count two on money laundering: five years, 11 months and 21 days in jail and a MVR one million fine.
Adeeb had signed a plea deal with the state in return for full cooperation in the MMPRC graft case and the Criminal Court in mid-July dropped the charges on the grounds that a plea deal signed was “entered wrongfully”. State prosecutors then asked the court to review the decision.
During a preliminary hearing on September 30, Adeeb had repeatedly noted that he had willingly confessed, following questions posed by the presiding judge, Hassan Saeed. Following this, the fast-track verdict hearing was held on Monday.
Speaking during an earlier hearing held on Monday morning, Adeeb noted that he had detailed names of those who received the embezzled funds as well as assets formed by them, along with a numerous statements and evidence to the investigative team.
