The Criminal Court of the Maldives has decided not to hear the testimonies of state witnesses Ali Mauroof, a former Parliamentarian, and Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, the Chairman of Sun Siyam Group, after they stated they did not wish to testify in the Fuhgiri trial.
At the last hearing, Judge Ali Nadeem said Siyam and Mauroof have sent letters stating that they did not wish to appear in court to testify. In response, the prosecution said that the state no longer wishes to take the testimony of the two men. The prosecution also expressed that they do not wish to take testimonies of Mohamed Shakir and Mohamed Hussain, the driver of former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb, after they also sent letters stating they do not wish to testify.
During the hearing, Adeeb's bodyguard Ahmed Amir testified that he was present at a meeting between Adeeb, Ahmed Krik Riza, Mauroof, former Managing Director of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) Abdulla Ziyath, and Salim, the brother of Siyam. The bodyguard said he was tasked with bringing a bag to Adeeb for the meeting.
The presiding judge concluded the hearing after scheduling the next one for July 20, during which the court will hear testimonies of two more state witnesses.
In the Fuhgiri case, former President Abdulla Yameen is charged with seeking a bribe of USD1.3 million to lease Fuhgiri to City Island Holdings Limited, which was facilitated by Ahmed Krik Riza. The state has accused Yameen of laundering USD1.1 million of the bribe through Sun Investment Private Limited and Sun Construction Engineering Private Limited. If found guilty, he will face a five-year prison sentence and a fine.
Former President Yameen is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence after the Criminal Court him guilty of charges of money laundering and accepting bribes in relation to the lease of Aarah, Vaavu Atoll, for resort development through MMPRC.