Minister Mahloof pleads not guilty to bribery charges

Whilst Youth Minister Ahmed Mahloof, who is currently standing trial on bribery charges, has pled not guilty to the charges – the Prosecution has submitted much evidence including the name former Vice President Ahmed Adheeb Abdul Gafoor to give oral testimony. 

Mahloof was charged based on the findings of an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) into the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) graft scandal. 

ACC found that in 2014, then-parliamentarian Mahloof received USD 33,000 in funds stolen from MMPRC as a bribe from then-Vice President Adheeb to remain a member of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and vote for the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Bill on August 27, 2014. 

ACC found that on September 1, 2014, a USD 33,000 cheque was deposited to Mahloof’s bank account by SOF Private Limited – the company accused of laundering the stolen funds. The corruption watchdog said that though Mahloof submitted a ‘Payment Received’ slip in the name of SOF as evidence it had been a legitimate business transaction to procure US dollars, the commission had witnesses and other evidence to prove otherwise.

At a hearing held today, the Prosecution had read out the charge against Mahloof. Noting there to be unclear points in the charge – his lawyer, Nooru al-Salaam Aboobakuru had requested the Prosecution to clarify the points.

Subsequently, the Prosecution had clarified the points highlighted by the defense.

In responding to the charge against him, Minister Mahloof has pled not guilty.

Despite this, the Prosecution had submitted names of seven people to give oral testimonies. They include Adheeb, in addition to Mohamed Allam Latheef and Ahmed Ishfah who are both implicated in the MMPRC graft scandal. Apart from this, it also includes the Sri Lankan national who had signed the ‘Payment Received’ slip produced by Mahloof as proof of a legitimate business transaction to procure US dollars and the analyst who did the mobile forensic examinations.

Whilst seven names have been submitted by the prosecution to give oral testimonies – 29 documents were submitted as documentary evidence.

The Prosecution alleges that Mahloof had accepted bribery in reference to the USD 33,000 cheque which was deposited to Mahloof’s BML account from SOF Private Limited’s BML account on September 1, 2014.

The Prosecution had also submitted a chatlog between Mahloof and Adheeb as evidence. In reference to this, the Prosecution states that Mahloof had arrived in the Maldives a day ahead of the vote on SEZ Bill and the money was deposited to his account the day after the vote was taken.

Noting that then-parliamentarians were bribed at a rate of MVR 500,000 – the Prosecution said that Mahloof was given the money in dollars because he had requested the same from Adheeb, as he had to go abroad.

At today’s hearing, Mahloof’s lawyer had said that they wished to submit evidence for defense. He detailed that the evidence includes the statement given to the police by Allam and Ishfah. Therefore, he had requested the judge to give more time to submit the documents.

Meanwhile, Mahloof stressed at the hearing that the law stipulates that questions may not be raised and a trial cannot be held on how a parliamentarian casts his vote. He also reiterated the he had not been involved in acts of bribery.

The next part of the trial will be to make a decision on whether the case can proceed as a civil matter or not. Presiding judge, Jude Mohamed Misbah noted that as there were many documents submitted regarding the case, additional time is required to go through them.

In ending today’s hearing, Judge Misbaah did not detail when a hearing on the case will be held next.

Should the charges against Mahloof be proven, he faces a jail sentence of three years, two months and 12 days.