Ziyath pleads not guilty for embezzlement charges against him

Former Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) Abdulla Ziyath has pleaded not guilty for the embezzlement charges against him brought up by the state.

He was charged for accepting a cheque for USD 1 million from Ebony Private Limited after the company was leased a Malé atoll lagoon to company but the money did not state did not receive the funds.

Ziyath is charged with reference to Article 215 (a), under Article 210 (b) of the Penal Code.

In court today, Judge Abdulla Mohamed said that the State had requested anonymity for the witnesses.

He also said that the State had not yet submitted all relevant documents to the court.

Ziyath has been given seven days to prepare his defence.