Coalition partner Adhaalath says release of Adeeb, Ziyath unacceptable

Adhaalath Party said on Tuesday that it is unacceptable that those who have embezzled state property do not get their due punishment.

Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and former MMPRC Managing Director Abdulla Ziyath were pardoned by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Monday.

"This party does not accept the impunity of those convicted of massive embezzlement of state property," Home Minister Imran Abdullah's Adhaalat Party said in a statement on Tuesday.

Adheeb was sentenced to 20 years in jail under a plea agreement with the state. Under a similar agreement, Ziyath was sentenced to 32 years in prison.

Despite the sentences, the government had placed Adeeb and Ziyath under house arrest. The two spent most of this government’s tenure at home.

The public has been criticising the party and Imran over the post of Adhaalath, which is part of the ruling coalition. They point out that Adhaalath is a party in the government that made the decision. Some have also said that the government has started to "shake" as the power of the government has gone and the Adhaalat Party has only now woken up from their deep sleep.

As part of the MMPRC corruption scandal, which took place during former President Abdulla Yameen's government, more than MVR 3.2 billion from the lease of islands and lagoons were siphoned off from the state, transferred to private accounts, and used to buy political influence and enrich those involved. 

President Solih came to power in 2018 with a promise to investigate the scandal and recover the stolen funds. By the end of his five years in office, the state has not recovered a single Rufiyaa.