PGO reviewing possible appeal in Sun companies’ MMPRC case
Last month, the Criminal Court ruled that the charges against the two companies were not proved.
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The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) said on Thursday that it is considering whether to appeal the acquittal of Sun Construction and Sun Investment in the money laundering case linked to the leasing of R. Fuggiri through the MMPRC corruption scandal.
Last month, the Criminal Court ruled that the charges against the two companies were not proved. The decision was delivered without a sentencing hearing being scheduled, and the verdict has not yet been uploaded to the court’s website.
When asked whether the prosecution would file an appeal, Prosecutor Sultana Adam told Atoll Times that the ruling was under review. “We are currently reviewing [the case]. We have not taken a decision yet,” he said.
The case concerns two companies owned by Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, leader of the Maldives Development Alliance (MDA) and MP for Meedhoo, whose trial was initially conducted jointly with that of former President Abdulla Yameen before the court separated the cases.
Hearings in the Sun companies’ case concluded in June, but the ruling was only delivered last month.
The prosecution had also brought charges against Ahmed Krik Riza for acting as an intermediary in the alleged transactions. However, those charges were later withdrawn due to delays in the proceedings.
According to the prosecution, R. Fuggiri was leased to Classic City Island Holdings Limited on 9 September 2015 through the MMPRC. The case centred on financial transfers alleged to disguise bribe money:
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29 May 2016: USD 1.1 million, allegedly obtained as bribes through Riza, was paid to Sun Construction via a cheque from an account opened in Riza’s name at the Bank of Ceylon.
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31 May 2016: The cheque was deposited into Sun Construction’s account at the State Bank of India, described as a dollar-marking transaction.
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7 June 2016: The funds were transferred to an account held by Sun Investment at the State Bank of India through an in-house fund transfer.
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7 June 2016: An additional USD 1,000 was added, bringing the total to USD 1.18 million, which was transferred to an account in Yameen’s name at an Islamic bank as an inter-company transfer.
While Yameen continues to face bribery and money laundering charges, the acquittal of Sun Construction and Sun Investment leaves the prosecution considering whether to pursue the matter at the High Court.
