Ziyath: USD 1 mn cheque from Ebony given to Adeeb

Former Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) Abdulla Ziyath has testified that he handed over the USD 1 million cheque MMPRC received from Ebony Private Limited for leasing a lagoon located in Male’ Atoll for 50 years, to former Vice President and Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor.

During hearing of MMPRC treason trial held on Monday, Ziyath said that he handed over the cheque to Adeeb because Tourism Ministry had sent a letter to MMPRC, saying that such payments should be transferred to Tourism Ministry.

In answer to questions posed by Judge Abdul Baree Yoosuf, Ziyath said that Adeeb had not given him a receipt when Ziyath gave him the cheque. And that he had no idea if the money had been received by State.

State prosecutor said that Ziyath admitting to receiving the cheque from Ebony, and admitting that he did not know if the money went to State was a confession of guilt to the charge against him.

State provided documents as evidence against Ziyath during Monday’s trial – including document prepared by police, Immigration report, letters from Economic Ministry and Tourism Ministry, a copy of agreement between Ebony and MMPRC and a copy of Ebony’s bank statement.

Ziyath during Monday’s hearing denied the statement he gave to police on November 16.

His lawyer Ahmed Yameen said that it was it was not a statement he gave with his own free will.