State requests time to present new evidence in Fuggiri case
According to the prosecution, the new evidence shows that the evidence presented in the court was not true.
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By
Aman Haleem
The state on Tuesday sought an opportunity to present new evidence obtained in connection with a report published by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), via investigative journalism, quoting Pandora Papers.
In the first hearing with the new judge Ali Nadeem after several days of no hearing, the PG lawyer made the request after the judge decided to proceed with the case from the beginning. Among the issues raised before concluding, advocate Aishath Shahma of the PG office, who said that based on the findings of the report, a letter has been sent asking for new evidence to be submitted during the investigation.
The OCCRP report shared information about the original shareholders of Dubai-based Classic City Holdings, which is involved in the Fuggiri deal, and A&A, registered in the British Virgin Islands. According to the OCCRP:
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The island was leased out through MMPRC in September 2015.
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The island was acquired for USD 1.55 million (MVR 23.9 million) by Dubai-registered Classic City Island Holdings Limited
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Former President Abdulla Yameen is alleged to have received USD 1.1 million (MVR 16.99 million) as kickbacks during the leasing of Fuggiri
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The money alleged to have been deposited in the account of a close aide of Yameen; the state has charged Ahmed Kurik Riza in the case
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The alleged bribe money was paid by A&A Holdings Group Limited, a company most ambiguously registered in the British Virgin Islands
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The real shareholders of the A&A group are Amit Kumar Gandhi and his brother Avinash Kumar Gandhi
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Amit Kumar is associated with Pune-based Avinash Bhosale, who owns 50% of Classic City Holdings, and his family business
According to the prosecution, the new evidence shows that the evidence presented in the court was not true as it was a transaction with A&A Holdings, which paid the money. On July 6, 2022, the PG office sent a letter requesting that the evidence be accepted. In response to the state's observations, Kurik Riza's lawyer Hosni Mubarak asked the court to examine the evidence and present fresh evidence in defence.
At the end of the hearing, Judge Nadeem said the next hearing would be held after all parties were allowed to submit their demands. The judge said he would take a decision based on the new evidence and pre-trial evidence.
