Jihad returns; says didn’t get court documents
The charges against Jihad are connected to his role in the government’s joint venture agreement to develop the Fushidhiggaru area as a special tourist zone.
Former Vice President Abdulla Jihad attended a ceremony at MMA Sunday, participating in the handover of key documents to the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
His public appearance comes in the wake of recent legal developments, with the High Court confirming that Jihad was not summoned to appear in court.
The Prosecutor General’s Office (PG) has filed an appeal against the Criminal Court’s decision to dismiss fraud charges against Jihad. The Criminal Court had initially dropped the case, citing difficulties in summoning the former vice president.
When questioned about the pending case, Jihad revealed that he had communicated with the High Court while traveling abroad. He emphasised that the court dismissed the case upon his return to the Maldives.
"I have been informed that I will come and hand over the documents, but there is no case in court now. The last government filed a baseless charge against me," Jihad stated.
He further asserted that since his arrival, neither the court nor the prosecutor's office has requested additional documents or further appearances.
The High Court recently directed the Prosecutor General’s Office to clarify Jihad’s address within 15 days, to determine whether the case could proceed. Following this, the PG’s office requested an extension of seven days to continue the remand process, but that deadline has now passed without resolution.
The charges against Jihad are connected to his role in the government’s joint venture agreement to develop the Fushidhiggaru area as a special tourist zone. Jihad was accused of approving a deal where the state held only 25% ownership, contrary to a cabinet decision for a 50% stake. The agreement was signed with Prime Capital Maldives Limited.
The Criminal Court dismissed the charges on July 25, ruling that the allegations were flawed and could not proceed to trial. The PG’s office appealed the decision to the High Court on September 29, with the latest hearing held on October 11.
The case originally emerged under the leadership of former Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem.
However, the new Prosecutor General, Abbas Shareef, has promised a review of previous prosecutorial decisions, including Jihad’s case. Shareef has announced plans to establish a committee to evaluate complaints against earlier charges, signaling a potential shift in how cases are handled moving forward.
Abdullah Jihad continues to serve as Chairman of the Development Bank of the Maldives and the Maldives International Financial Services Authority.
