State appeals case against ex-defense chief Shiyam to High Court

The state has appealed the case against former defense chief Ahmed Shiyam regarding misuse of official capacity with the High Court.

Shiyam was charged with misuse of official capacity after alleging he accommodated his father at a VIP residence located at the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) Maritime Rescue Coordination Center located in K. Villingili who received services from soldiers during his stay.

Last year, Criminal Court acquitted Shiyam on the charge. Subsequently, the state appealed the case to the High Court on December 29^th. The apex court has yet to decide whether to accept or reject the appeal.

The charge against Shiyam came after Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) found Shiyam accommodated his father at the VIP residence for a period of one year, four months and 24 days between 2017 to 2018, and arranged for a private officer of the MNDF to serve a caretaker.

ACC had previously filed the case, concluding that it did not involve corruption. The case was reopened at the instructions of then-Prosecutor General.