Adeeb was sentenced for each charge as below;
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accomplice to embezzlement — 4 years, 9 months and 2 days
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accomplice to embezzlement — 2 years, 4 months and 24 days
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misuse of official capacity to obtain an undue advantage — 6 months
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abuse of power — 3 months
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money laundering — 5 years, 11 months and 6 days along with a fine of MVR 1 million
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misuse of official capacity to obtain an undue advantage — 1 month and 15 days
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money laundering — 5 years, 11 months and 12 days
Male’, Maldives – Former Vice President of Maldives Ahmed Adeeb, who went down for the scandalous grand corruption of the Maldives Media and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) funds, has gotten transferred to home arrest just one day after being sentenced to 20 years in jail.
Local media outlet ‘Mihaaru’ reported that an official of Maldives Correctional Service revealed that Adeeb had initially been taken to the Male’ jail after sentencing, but was later transferred back to home arrest after his health condition deteriorated. “He is in home arrest temporarily due to his health condition.” said the official.
Adeeb was sentenced to jail for 20 years with a fine of MVR 2 million, after being found guilty of the seven charges pressed against him in connection to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) embezzlement case, which include two charges of being an accomplice to embezzlement, two charges of money laundering, two charges of misuse of official capacity to obtain an undue advantage and one charge of abuse of power.
During the hearing held on 30th September Adeeb had confessed to all the charges pressed against him. He also requested leniency under the plea deal he agreed to with the state. Under the plea deal he agreed to he was sentenced to jail for 20 years and fined MVR 2 million. He was ordered to pay the fine within a month.
Even though Adeeb was held in Malé Jail under the order of the Criminal Court until a verdict was passed, he was transferred to house arrest after taking his health conditions into consideration.
While the initial evidence collected by the state was enough to put Adeeb away for 800 years, according to prosecutors, Abeeb was still granted leniency as per the plea bargain signed between the state and him, for his cooperation and admitting of guilt. Despite this Adeeb made an escape attempt from the country on a tug boat, and was arrested in India, upon which he was returned back to the country.
The MMPRC case, which surfaced in 2015, is the largest corruption scandal to rock the Maldives in history. Following initial investigations, the Auditor General’s Office disclosed that MVR 1.2 billion in state funds, acquired via island and lagoon leases, had been embezzled via the corporation, which later increased to MVR 1.4 billion after the investigation by Anti Corruption Commission (ACC).
