Ex-VP Adeeb pleads guilty to 7 charges in MMPRC graft case

Former Maldivian Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor, on Wednesday, plead guilty to all seven charges pressed against him in connection to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) embezzlement and money laundering scandal.

The case against Adeeb was previously been dismissed by the Criminal Court in July, citing questions over the legitimacy of the plea deal struck between Adeeb and the Prosecutor General’s Office. The decision was appealed by the Prosecutor General’s Office at the High Court, which ordered the Criminal Court to reopen the case last week.

The new arraignment hearing was held at the Criminal Court on Wednesday afternoon, and lasted one-and-a-half hours, as the state prosecution read the charges and the penalties.

Adeeb faces 20 years in prison for the charges under the plea deal.

When given the opportunity to respond to the charges by Judge Hassan Saeed, Adeeb said he wishes to make a statement to explain the whole case.

He was granted the opportunity.

Adeeb said that he had, and continues to provide his full cooperation in the recovery of funds embezzled from MMPRC.

He described it as his patriotic duty.

Adeeb also praised the current government, and compared it to the previous government which he said had no intention of investigating the case and recovering the funds. He said that he believes the current government, in contrast, is operating in good faith. He said that the current government is doing sincere work, and that he is confident the government will recover the funds.

Adeeb said that there isn’t a single political party in Maldives that hadn’t been recipients of the embezzled funds.

He accused former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom of being the ringleader behind the embezzlement scam, and said that Yameen had used the funds to exert his influence over state and independent institutions.

He said that all his actions were guided by Yameen’s specific instructions.

Adeeb said that he has already spent four to five years in prison on various convictions in connections to the case, and has developed major health complications during that time.

He said that he pleads guilty to all charges, has repented to God, and apologizes to the Maldivian people for his part in the crime.

He also asked for leniency in his sentencing.

Following his statement, the judge asked Adeeb whether he signed the plea deal under any form of duress.

Adeeb responded that he had not been under any duress when he made the plea deal.

The judge next asked Adeeb whether he had been of sound mind when he made the plea deal.

Adeeb responded that he had been of sound mind, and made the plea deal out of good faith.

Following Adeeb’s guilty plea, the judge said he wishes to move straightway to sentencing if both sides agree.

However, Adeeb objected to a quick sentencing, and asked for five days to negotiate a lesser sentence with the state.

The judge decided to schedule the sentencing hearing to Monday, October 5.