Adeeb settles MVR 1M fine over money laundering conviction in MMPRC case

Former vice president Ahmed Adeeb has paid the MVR 1 million fine owed to the state over his money laundering conviction in connection with the MMPRC graft scandal.

On October 5, 2020, Adeeb was sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined a total of MVR 2 million for his involvement in the case. The Criminal Court’s ruling ordered the payment of an MVR 1 million of the fine to be paid to the state within one month of the sentencing date.

As the payment was not made within the stipulated period, the state filed a case with the Civil Court to recover the outstanding amount.

The Civil Court concluded the case on Monday after noting that the state had confirmed Adeeb settled the outstanding balance last week. According to the court’s records, Adeeb paid MVR 100,000 toward the fine in September last year, followed by the remaining MVR 900,000 last week, bringing the total amount paid to MVR 1 million.

The MMPRC scandal took place during the administration of former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) previously estimated that the embezzlement had caused losses of at least MVR 1.5 billion to the state.

Adeeb received a reduced sentence under a plea agreement reached with the state. However, he remained under house arrest throughout his sentence over health reasons.

Former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who assumed office pledging to investigate the scandal, granted presidential pardon to both Adeeb and former MMPRC Managing Director Abdulla Ziyath shortly before the conclusion of his presidential term.