Sentencing delayed for Adheeb, Ziyath and Haamid

Sentencing hearing in the USD 5 million embezzlement from state funds case against the former Vice President Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Gafoor, former Managing Director of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporatin (MMPRC) and Haamid Ismail scheduled for tonight has been delayed.

The sentencing hearing was previous scheduled to 11 p.m. tonight but now has been cancelled.

They were charged after USD 5 million received from Kureddhoo Holdings Pvt. Ltd. as an acquisition fee to develop Lhaviyani Maabinhuraa as a tourist resort.

At the last hearing in the case on last Saturday, the defense and the prosecution presented their closing arguments. But the details of the hearing are unclear since the hearing was held behind closed doors.

A shareholder at Millanium Capital Managemetn Pvt. Ltd., Abjad Ismail testified in court that the former Vice President deposited the USD 5 million in to an account of the company and called to inform him.

Amjad said that a cheque for USD 4 million to be deposited at an account of Montalaon International was prepared upon the request of then Vice President Adheeb after keeping USD 1 million in the account and given to another shareholder.