Ziyath handed 12 more years over MMPRC graft
Despite his 20-year prison sentence, he has been transferred to house arrest.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
Criminal Court on Thursday sentenced former MMPRC Managing Director Abdulla Ziyath to another 12 years in prison.
Ziyath has previously pleaded guilty to 32 charges of embezzlement of the proceeds of leasing islands and lagoons through the MMPRC for the resort development. Despite his 20-year prison sentence, he has been transferred to house arrest.
The Prosecutor General's Office (PG) said Ziyath was sentenced to additional 12 years in jail under a plea agreement with the state. Under the agreement:
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Agreed the sentence imposed on Ziyath to be raised by four degrees from the basic standard of sentence
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Ziyath pleaded guilty and cooperated adequately in the investigation and trial process; the punishment was reduced by three degrees
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He has agreed to cooperate in all administrative or civil arrangements and investigations to recover any money or property involved in the MMPRC corruption scandal
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He agreed to return any property involved in the MMPRC corruption scandal
Three charges were filed against Ziyath over:
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In 2014 and 2015, MMPRC embezzled money from various state-owned companies in the name of buying foreign currency
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Misappropriation of funds by disbursing loans to private individuals and companies through corrupt practices
Ziyath was charged with three counts of embezzlement on September 4.
First count
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During his tenure as the managing director of MMPRC, the company received Maldivian Rufiyaa from Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) in 2014 and 2015 in the name of acquiring dollars for the company, and released MVR 2.3 million of the money to various companies and misappropriated the funds
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Basic sentence: three years, two months and 12 days
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Sentence: Four years in prison
Second count
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While serving as the managing director of MMPRC, he embezzled USD 6.8 million from the MMPRC's dollar account in 2014 and 2015 by issuing loans to various private companies
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Basic sentence: three years, two months and 12 days
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Sentence: Four years in prison
Third count
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As the managing director of MMPRC, he obtained USD 1 million in loans from the Maldives Tourism Development Company (MTDC) during 2014 and 2015 and transferred the funds to a private company
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Basic sentence: three years, two months and 12 days
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Sentence: Four years in prison
