The High Court has ruled that the prison sentence of Hussain Shifau, who was sentenced to 109 years in prison for acquiring large amounts of goods by sending fraudulent telegraphic transfers (TTs) to foreign companies, cannot be stayed.

In 2023, 23 charges brought by the state against Shifau, who were arrested over acquiring MVR 1.9 million worth of goods by sending fraudulent TTs, were proven.

Accordingly, the Criminal Court sentenced him last year to a total of 109 years in prison along with a fine of MVR 7 million after finding him guilty of 9 counts of issuing a false document, 7 counts of fraud, and 7 counts of money laundering.

After appealing the verdicts at the High Court on behalf of Shifau, a request was made to stay the execution of his prison sentence or temporarily transfer him to house arrest under bail until the appeal proceedings are concluded.

In its ruling delivered today regarding the matter, the High Court stated that there is no legal basis to issue an order staying the execution of Shifau's prison sentence. Furthermore, the unanimous ruling by the three-judge bench stated that even though a request was made to transfer him to house arrest under bail, he cannot be transferred to house arrest either, as the matters specified in the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the issue were not adequately substantiated.

The case is being presided over at the High Court by Judge Ismail Shafeeu, Judge Hussain Mazeed, and Judge Dheebanaz Fahumy, with Judge Shafeeu chairing the bench.