Yameen unaware of Fuggiri graft, state witness tells court

Maafannu Central MP Ibrahim Rasheed told a Criminal Court hearing on Thursday that top government officials were not aware of the actions of the tourism ministry in leasing R. Fuggiri for tourism as part of the MMPRC corruption scandal and that it was directly run by the then tourism minister Ahmed Adeeb. 

The court is currently hearing witness testimony in the trial against three parties in connection with the alleged fraud in the lease of Fuggiri for the development of a tourist resort:

At Thursday's hearing, MP Rasheed appeared as a state witness. 

He said he had worked as a representative on behalf of the Dubai company that leased the island.

“I have worked in international hotel chains in the past and I was appointed as an official representative of the company for Maldives,” he said.

When asked by the prosecution how much the island was valued, Rasheed said the value of the island was between USD 1.2-1.5 million.

Although the prosecution claimed that the island was given at a low price, Rasheed said the island was not given at a low price.

“It wasn't undervalued. It is valued at the right price," he said, noting that “people used to carry USD 300,00 in their pockets in those days”.

Rasheed said the dispute arose when talks began of reducing the acquisition cost to USD 400,000.

Adeeb had earlier testified in court that Yameen had tried to reduce the acquisition cost to USD 400,000, but that he convinced Yameen to allow the lease to proceed at USD 1.55 million.

However, Rasheed said that the acquisition cost was reduced by the tourism ministry led by Adeeb.

"Adeeb was in the ministry at the time. When I thought he was going to do something unlawful, I said to not get involved. At that point, the matter went to the ACC. The ACC looked into the matter too. So I know the heads of the government were not aware of it all," Rasheed said in a manner that implied that Yameen did not have the knowledge.

Rasheed contradicted Adeeb’s testimony, denying that he met Adeeb as a representative of Classic City Island Holdings Limited which leased the island during the lease negotiations. He said Adeeb had, "lied in the trial and fled”.

Rasheed said:

An initial sum of USD 150,000 was paid for the offer letter, according to Rasheed. The money was wired from the Dubai company, he said.