Hamid names MMA Governor, BML CEO as witnesses in defense

Hamid Ismail – who is embroiled in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption and embezzlement scandal has named Governor of Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), Dr. Azeema Adam and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Maldives – Andrew Healy as witnesses in defense, during Wednesday’s hearing on the case.

Hamid, along with former Vice President and Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor and former Managing Director of MMPRC Abdulla Ziyath stand accused of embezzling USD 5 million cheque in acquisition cost for Lh. Maabinhura which should have gone into MMPRC.

In addition to Dr. Azeema and Healy, Hamid also named Ahmed Nizam, Amjad Ismail, Riffath Waheed, Hussein Shareef and Ahmed Shinan as witnesses.

Abdulla Ziyath listed the special audit report on MMPRC as evidence.

He also said he denied the statement he gave to police, saying that police had influenced him into giving the statement by telling him he would be transferred to house arrest if he said certain things in the statement.

Adeeb listed MMPRC and Monteleone International Private Limited’s rulebook as evidence.

He also named two witnesses, who, his defense attorney said, would prove he had no connection with Monteleone.

Meanwhile, state prosecution reviewed their witness list to two anonymous witnesses to prove that Hamid laundered the embezzled money by selling the dollars to State Trading Organization (STO).

State also listed numerous documents as evidence – including Hamid’s bank account statement an STO bank statement.

Witness testimony was scheduled for Saturday but cancelled upon the request of defense.

Judge Ibrahim said that the next hearing on the case would be held very soon.