SeaLife’s MD Ammaty pleads ‘not guilty’ to 42 charges of fraud and embezzlement

SeaLife Global’s managing director Ahmed Moosa Mohamed (Ammaty) – pressed with multiple charges for defrauding over 200 tenants out of millions in booking fees for a proposed apartment complex in suburban Hulhumale’ – has entered a plea of “not guilty” to all charges.

The 42 charges of fraud and embezzlement against Ammaty were read over the course of two hearings at the Criminal Court.

At the hearing Sunday, Ammaty’s lawyer Mariyam Nihayath said her client did not commit any of the crimes he had been accused of. She also questioned the prosecution’s intention in charging Ammaty himself, rather than the company.

Nihayath argued that the agreements were between SeaLife and the tenants, and not Ammaty himself. She also argued that the case was a civil dispute and not a criminal one, and that the Criminal Court therefore did not have jurisdiction over the case.

With Ammaty’s “not guilty” plea, the case will now move to trial.

The defense has said they wish to submit evidence in the case.

Judge Hassan Saeed announced the hearings to hear evidence and witness testimony will begin on March 5.

SeaLife announced its 3,000-apartment housing project, the SeaLife Complex in Hulhumale’, back in 2015.

280 tenants paid a booking fee of MVR 50,000 (some more than MVR 50,000). But the SeaLife Complex was never built.

The cumulative total of the booking fees collected by SeaLife is estimated to be upwards of MVR 14 million.

Housing Development Corporation (HDC) later intervened to reimburse the tenants who submitted documents to the corporation, and they were given priority in the sale of Vinares apartments.

Ammaty, who had an Interpol red notice out for his capture since 2019, was arrested in neighboring Sri Lanka in February, 2021.

Ammaty faces 65 years in prison if the charges are proven against him in court.