Supreme Court schedules appeal hearing over Adeeb’s acquittal for embezzlement

Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing in the appeal filed by the State over former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor’s acquittal for embezzlement of USD 5 million.

The Supreme Court has scheduled the appeal hearing for 10:30 am on Tuesday.

Adeeb was found guilty of embezzling a USD 5 million bank cheque issued by Kuredu Holdings to Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) as acquisition cost to develop a resort in Lh. Maabinhura by the Criminal Court and sentenced to eight years in prison in 2016.

The High Court, in early 2019, overturned the sentence citing ‘clear political influence over the trial proceedings’ and ordered the Criminal Court to hold a new trial. The Criminal Court, however, rejected the case citing lack of ground to hold a new trial.

The State subsequently filed an appeal with the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court, in June, granted the State’s request for a travel ban on Adeeb.

The former VP was recently intercepted at the Tuticorin Port of India after he fled the country in violation of the travel ban.