Saeed to be sentenced today regarding charges

The Criminal Court has started a trial for the sentencing of corruption charges against Ahmed Saeed Mohamed during his time as Fenaka Corporation's Managing Director.

Along with Saeed, then-Procurement Head Mariyam Dheena was charged as well, regarding the agreement made between Fenaka Corporation and Blazon Inc. Pvt. Ltd in 2019. The charge stipulates that Blazon Inc had been handed money for project completion while the project hadn't ended and without ensuring whether the project had ended on their side.

Saeed and Dheena were charged with providing Blazon Inc with illegal benefits in an official capacity.

If proven, jail time of one year and six months will need to be carried out.

Today's scheduled trial will see sentencing in regards to a previous trial that had started, with its hearing having ended.

As has been said by the Prosecutor General's Office in the past, more than MVR 900,000 in damages were incurred due to Fenaka's decision.

While Saeed will be sentenced today regarding the Fenaka case, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is currently investigating related cases as well. Saeed's passport has been seized in relation to the investigations.

During former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration, the Anti-Corruption Commission put forth the accusation that he had facilitated acts of corruption while Saeed was Fenaka's MD, with the commission bringing this information to President Solih in 2021. The corruption issue of illegal benefits being granted via projects being awarded was also a part of this,

Despite the allegations of corruption within Fenaka in 2021, no action was taken by the ACC nor from the administration before the administration left office. 

The Auditor General's audit report that was released last Thursday also had accusations of corruption through Fenaka during the latter end of the MDP administration.