Ex-defense chief Moosa Ali Jaleel faces money laundering charge

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has asked for former defense minister, Major-General (Retired) Moosa Ali Jaleel to be charged with money laundering in connection to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) graft scandal.

ACC asked the Prosecutor General’s Office for the charge against Jaleel on Thursday.

ACC said its investigation found the MVR 1 million Jaleel got through former vice president Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor from the funds MMPRC received for the sale of islands and lagoons for resort development was obtained through criminal means.

The commission said there was sufficient grounds to establish Jaleel had been aware the money was obtained through criminal means.

 ACC found Jaleel deposited the money to his personal bank account and spent it.

The commission asked for Jaleel to be charged with money laundering under Article 5 (a) of Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Act.

ACC also instructed MMPRC to recover MVR 1 million Jaleel received.

Jaleel had been charged with terrorism in connection to the arrest of Criminal Court’s chief judge Abdulla Mohamed during former president Mohamed Nasheed’s administration. However, the court issued him an acquittal.

He went on to serve as former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration’s second defense minister, after his predecessor, Colonel (Retired) Mohamed Nazim was arrested for possession of a handgun.

However, he was dismissed after the explosion on the presidential speedboat ‘Finifenmaa’ in 2015, which Yameen claims was an assassination attempt.

Jaleel was one of the heroes of Maldives’ battle against terror attack of November 3, 1988.