State submits testimony of 9 anoymous witnesses against Adeeb, Ziyath, Hamid

State prosecutors on Tuesday’s hearing, put forward 9 anonymous witnesses to testify against three suspects who stand accused of embezzling USD 5 million in acquisition cost paid by Kure’dhoo Holdings to lease Lh. Maabinhuraa.

Former Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), Abdulla Ziyath stands accused of accepting the USD 5 million cheque and embezzling the money. While former Vice President and Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb and businessman Hamid Ismail stand accused of embezzling the money as well.

In addition to testimony of 9 anonymous witnesses, state also submitted bank statements as evidence.

State prosecutors said that Ziyath had confessed to accepting the cheque during police interrogation.

The defense said that state needed to say exactly what they wanted to prove with the testimony of the 9 anonymous witnesses, so that the defense can prepare questions for the witnesses.

State prosecutors said that they would submit the evidence in a document, and that the motive for each evidence would be written down in it.

Judge Ibrahim Ali said that first thing during the next hearing would be state clarifying the motive behind each evidence they have put forward in court; next thing, hearing witness testimony.

Hamid’s defense lawyer Husnu Suood expressed displeasure over the decision, saying that it would not provide the defense adequate time to prepare for cross examination.