Money laundering charge retracted; Adeeb, Ziyath and Hamid charged with graft

Prosecutors have retracted the money laundering charge against Hamid Ismail from M. Shuramanzil and have charged him, former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor and former MMPRC Managing Director Abdulla Ziyath with graft.

An official from Prosecutor General’s Office informed “Sun” that Hamid has been charged with taking acquisition cost from leasing an island – Lh. Maabinhura – for development as a tourist resort – which amounted to USD 5 million. While Adeeb and Ziyath have been charged with joining in.

Two more charges have been pressed against Adeeb and Ziyath, which involves a lagoon in Kaafu Atoll which was leased to be developed for tourism to Ebony Private Limited.

Adeeb has been charged with using corruption to lease the island to Ebony; while Ziyath has been charged with pocketing the USD 1 million from the lease.

Both Adeeb and Ziyath have denied the charges against them.