Mamdooh's K-Park scam trial begins with 202 counts
Hanbo has also accused Mamdhooh of trying to destroy evidence and not cooperating with the investigation.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
The trial of over 200 charges filed against one of the shareholders of K-Park Residences, Mohamed Mamdhooh and one other person, over the alleged fraudulent sale of flats, began in the Criminal Court on Tuesday.
The prosecution has filed 104 charges against Mamdhooh and 98 charges against Jaishan Saeed, Kinaaraage/R.Alifushi.
The two are accused of selling 41 apartments in K-Park to 107 people, a scam led by Mamdhooh. The Prosecutor General's office (PG) has filed five types of charges in the case. The types are:
-
Fabricating documents
-
Fraud and forgery
-
Tax evasion
-
Money laundering and criminal breach of trust
-
Involvement in scam
The preliminary hearing in the Criminal Court on Tuesday was held to clarify whether documents were available and whether the accused wanted to proceed with a lawyer.
At the hearing, both men said they wanted to proceed with a lawyer, and that they wanted to arrange lawyers themselves. Judge Ali Nadeem, who is hearing the case, said the documents had been handed over for several days now and they would be given just 10 days to appoint a lawyer, so the trial does not get further delayed.
The judge ruled:
-
The second hearing of the case will be held in 10 days
-
To proceed with the case even if no lawyers have been assigned by the accused
Cases where the K-Park Residence flats that were being built by Hanbo Maldives in Hulhumale were being sold fraudulently at various prices emerged in April last year. The company said in a statement at the time:
-
Hanbo alleged that Mamdooh and another person had extorted money from many people
-
Hanbo said the signature of its Managing Director Jin Shi Hu, who owns 95% of the company, was forged
Mamdhooh was arrested on July 5 last year while trying to leave the country. However, he was released from custody after his passport was impounded under an order issued by the Hulhumale Court on 30th of that month.
Hanbo has also accused Mamdhooh of trying to destroy evidence and not cooperating with the investigation.
On November 19 last year, the police had seized assets believed to have been acquired through fraudulent sale of flats in K-Park at throwaway prices. Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem said the assets were valued at MVR 7 million. Mamdhooh went to the High Court to get these items back, but the High Court also ruled that such an order could not be issued.
Related
Related
Local shareholder loses appeal of asset seizure in K-Park scam
High Court accepts appeal for recovery of Mamdooh's property
Over 200 charges against 2 in K-Park fraud; 104 on Mamdooh alone
