State requests Adeeb be jailed pending outcome of Maabinhura appeal

The State prosecution has filed a motion with the Supreme Court for a court order to keep former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor detained pending the outcome of appeal proceedings over his acquittal in an embezzlement case.

The State filed an appeal with the Supreme Court following the High Court’s decision to overturn an eight-year prison sentence issued against Adeeb by Criminal Court in 2016 for embezzling a USD 5 million bank cheque issued by Kuredu Holdings to Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) as acquisition cost to develop a resort in Lh. Maabinhura.

The Criminal Court, though the High Court issued the acquittal with instructions for a retrial, pushed the case out of court citing lack of ground to hold a new trial.

Appeal proceedings began at the Supreme Court this Tuesday.

Adeeb attended the appeal hearing with no legal representation and requested time to hire one.

The court granted him seven days to hire an attorney.

The State has filed a motion for a court order to keep Adeeb detained pending the outcome of the appeal. However, Adeeb requested that a decision regarding his detention be made after he has legal representation, and the hearing this Tuesday was adjourned without any decision as to his detention.

Adeeb is currently detained at the Dhoonidhoo Custodial for travelling to India in violation of a travel ban issued by the Supreme Court in connection to the Maabinhura case.

The Criminal Court remanded him to 15 days in jail for the the investigation into the violation last Monday.