Criminal Court convicts Shifau on 16 fraud-related charges
A hearing has been scheduled for next Monday to determine sentencing. The judge also ordered that Shifau remain in custody until the sentencing hearing.
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The Criminal Court on Sunday convicted Hassan Shifau on 16 charges related to the issuance of invalid telegraphic transfers (TTs).
Shifau was accused of importing goods for foreign companies through Kingdom of Fruits, a business registered with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, in collaboration with another individual, and committing fraud in the payment process.
The Prosecutor General’s Office had filed 23 charges against him. The Criminal Court issued rulings on 16 of them, while seven charges remain pending.
The court found Shifau guilty of:
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Nine counts of knowingly issuing an invalid document
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Seven counts of fraud and deception
The remaining seven charges concern money laundering. The court did not rule on these charges on Sunday.
A hearing has been scheduled for next Monday to determine sentencing. The judge also ordered that Shifau remain in custody until the sentencing hearing.
The prosecution and Shifau had reached a plea agreement that would have avoided a prison sentence in a case carrying a potential life sentence. However, the court rejected the agreement.
Under the proposed plea agreement:
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All but seven of the 23 charges would be withdrawn
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The withdrawn charges include money laundering and one charge of knowingly issuing an invalid document
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The remaining seven charges would result in 88 days’ imprisonment and a fine of MVR 184,000
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If convicted under the terms of the agreement, Shifau would not serve time beyond the 88 days and would only be required to pay the fine
According to the charges, Shifau allegedly produced and submitted invalid documents to demonstrate payment for goods purchased from multiple foreign companies.
The case timeline includes:
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27 April 2023: Prosecution filed 23 charges
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28 April 2023: Shifau was arrested
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27 May 2023: He left Maldives after being released by the court
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29 August 2023: Interpol issued a red notice
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28 September 2023: Upon his return, his passport was seized and he was released
The prosecution previously stated that the value of the financial transactions involved exceeded USD 123,800, amounting to more than USD 1.9 million. If convicted on all 23 charges, Shifau could face a minimum of 38 years in prison.
