State prosecutors have said that former head of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) Abdullah Ziyaath had grafted MVR 718.6 million.
The massive figure was recorded as acquisition costs for 25 islands and five lagoons, leased for a period of 50 years.
Preliminary hearings for 15 of the cases was held on Saturday, with the remaining 15 heard on Tuesday.
Breakdown of charges filed against Ziyaath;
- US$ 300,000 for the lease of Kan’doogan’du island in Raa Atoll to Mohamed Hussain Fulhu, Bulbulaage, Inguraidhoo island in Raa Atoll
- US$ 3 million for the lease of Bodufushi island in Raa Atoll to Alibey Maldives Pvt Ltd
- US$ 1 million for the lease of Bodufinolhu island in Alif Dhaal Atoll to Bodufaru Beach Pvt Ltd
- US$ 1.75 million for the lease of Huravalhi island in Raa Atoll to Amir Mansoor, Mahchangolhi Manas
- US$ 150,000 for the lease of Fuh’giri island in Raa Atoll to Classic City Island Maldives
- US$ 360,000 for the lease of Huraafaru island in Baa Atoll to Secret Paradise Pvt Ltd
- US$ 1 million for the lease of Aarah island in Vaavu Atoll to TwoG Pvt Ltd
- US$ 300,000 for the lease of Dhigudhefaru island in Baa Atoll to Dhigudhefaru Investment Pvt Ltd
- US$ 1 million for the lease of Muthaafushi island in Baa Atoll to Well Land Investment Pvt Ltd
- US$ 4 million for the lease of Orivaru island in Noonu Atoll to Robinson Maldives Pvt Ltd
- US$ 1.5 million for the lease of Bodufaru island in Raa Atoll to Bodufaru Beach Resort Pvt Ltd
- US$ 1 million for the lease of Vodemullah island in Gaaf Alif Atoll to United International Hotel Group
- US$ 5 million for the lease of Kothaifaru island in Raa Atoll to Orient Rose Pvt Ltd
- US$ 1.6 million for the lease of a lagoon in Male’ Atoll to Bodufaru Beach Pvt Ltd
- US$ 1.5 million for the lease of a sandbank in Mathiveri island in Alif Alif Atoll to International Travel Consultant Pvt Ltd
- US$ 1.5 million for the lease of a lagoon in Male’ Atoll to Radhun Resorts and Investment Pvt Ltd
- US$ 300,000 for the lease of Gemana island in Raa Atoll to Gemana Pvt Ltd
- US$ 3 million for the lease of Medhufaru island in Noonu Atoll to Hillside Villa Pvt Ltd
- US$ 5 million for the lease of Raafushi island in Noonu Atoll to Ace Resorts Pvt Ltd
- US$ 1.8 million for the lease of Uthurubodufaru island in Meemu Atoll to Island Channels Pvt Ltd
- US$ 2.5 million for the lease of Faarufushi island in Raa Atoll to Mohamed Umari Manik, Maafanu Ruhkara
- US$ 300,000 for the lease of a lagoon in Male’ Atoll to Coral Tree Pvt Ltd
- US$ 150,000 for the lease of Kalhudhiyafushi island in Thaa Atoll to Huravee International Pvt Ltd
- US$ 2 million for the lease of Milaidhoo island in Baa Atoll to Universal Enterprises
- US$ 500,000 for the lease of Olhugiri island in Thaa Atoll to Popular Maldives Pvt Ltd
- US$ 950,000 for the lease of Fushidhihgaa island in Alif Dhaal Atoll to HMHI Company Pvt Ltd
- US$ 300,000 for the lease of a lagoon in Male’ Atoll to Mohamed Wafir, Galolhu Rangirige
- US$ 2.5 million for the lease of a lagoon in Male’ Atoll to Depezer Services Ltd
- MVR 38.55 million for the lease of Uthurumaafaru island in Raa Atoll to Sunfront Pvt Ltd
- MVR 2.3 million for the lease of Vashugiri island in Vaavu Atoll to Vashugiri Pvt Ltd
The charges raised against Ziyaath say that he had accepted the cheques made out for the acquisition cost of the said islands. The cheques were not deposited to MMPRC accounts.
Ziyaath denies all the charges.
His lawyer Ahmed Yameen asserted that he had accepted the cheques and, as instructed by the Tourism Ministry, handed over the cheques to then Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb, as proof of payment. The lawyer said there was no intent of graft on part of Ziyaath when he handed over the cheques to Adeeb.
The lawyer further noted that all cheques were made out to MMPRC. However, all the cheques, as per the documents submitted by the state, showed that all cheques were deposited to SOF company account.
Defense said the cheques, made out to MMPRC, was deposited to SOF accounts in violation of the board resolution sent in by MMPRC to Bank of Maldives (BML). He asserted that his client had not violated any laws and procedures set by MMPRC.
Judge Ali Adam had decreed on Tuesday the case can be carried out as a civil one and had given both defense and prosecution one month for pre-trial motions. The pre-trial motions have to be submitted by December 14th.
Some of the charges were filed under the Penal Code, enacted in 1968. As per this, if proven guilty, Ziyath will have to serve a jail term exceeding 30,000 years. Under the 1968 Penal Code, if the grafted amount is above MVR 10,000, one month will be added for every additional MVR 1,000 grafted.
However, under the 2015 Penal Code graft is a third-degree offense and a guilty verdict has a jail term of three years, two months and 12 days.
