The Criminal Court, on October 16, imposed a three-month and prison sentence on the captain and engineer of the Tug boat aboard which former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb attempted to escape.
The two Indonesian nationals were charged with assisting the obstruction of justice and sentenced to three months and 18 days in prison after they confessed at court.
While obstruction of justice carries a sentence of four months and 24 days, Captain Vivien Gunawan and Ikra Basri received reduced sentences as per the Penal Code since they pleaded guilty to their offences.
The former vice president was also sentenced to three months and 18 days of imprisonment for obstruction of justice after pleading guilty to his charges.
Adeeb attempted to flee aboard 'Virgo 9', a Singapore-flagged tug, posing as a crew-member on July 27. Indian authorities intercepted the former vice president near the coast of Tuticorin Port, Thoothukudi, and he was extradited on August 4.
At the time of the escape attempt, the former Vice President was banned from leaving the country until the Supreme Court closed an ongoing appeal case lodged by the government concerning the embezzlement of USD 5 million (MVR 77 million) owed to the state as the acquisition cost for Maabinhuraa, Lhaviyani Atoll.
In September, the Prosecutor General's (PG) Office pressed charges against the ex-VP on seven different charges concerning the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) scandal that cost the state over MVR 3.7 billion in embezzled funds.
Formerly, he was sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison for various crimes regarding the MMPRC scandal and the explosion on the Presidential speedboat 'Finifenmaa'.
However, all the sentences were withdrawn claiming he was wrongfully charged.
Sign In