The state, on Monday, revealed that former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb agreed to provide a confession regarding the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Company (MMPRC) corruption scandal in return for a 20-year prison sentence and an MVR 2 million fine.
During the Criminal Court hearing, the prosecution confirmed that Adeeb assented to confess to all seven charges pressed against him over the MVR 4 billion graft case.
The state charged Adeeb, who was serving as the Minister of Tourism at the time, with two counts of embezzlement, two counts of money laundering, as well as exerting influence for illicit gains, exerting influence to earn illicit gains for another party, and abusing his official position.
Under the confessional agreement between Adeeb and the state, the ex-VP will face four years and nine months of jail time for the first count of embezzlement while the second count of embezzlement carries a two-year and four-month sentence.
While his charge for exerting influence for illicit gains for another party results in a six-month sentence, Adeeb stands to be incarcerated for another three months for abusing his official position. He also faces an additional month and 15 days in prison for exerting influence to earn illicit gains.
The two counts of money laundering carry sentences of five years and 11 months in addition to a fine of MVR 1 million each.
Judge Hassan Saeed initially scheduled the verdict hearing for October 12, after the state presented the proposed sentences during Monday's hearing. However, the state highlighted that the ongoing trial was fast-tracked and that the Criminal Procedure Code stipulated that the verdict for such cases must be announced in the hearing held after the defendant confesses.
The former Vice President confessed to the charges on September 30 during a hearing at the Criminal Court. He insisted that the funds lost in the graft must be recovered, in addition to reiterating his cooperation to the cause.
Recounting the details of the largest corruption scandal recorded in Maldivian history, for the first time in court, Adeeb described the graft as a "government-led scam" carried out under former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's instructions to fund the campaigns for the 18th Parliamentary elections.
According to Adeeb, the funds siphoned through MMPRC were also distributed amongst members of Parliament, the judiciary and independent watchdog bodies, in addition to ex-President Yameen.
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