The Criminal Court on Thursday sentenced former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and former Managing Director of MMPRC Abdulla Ziyath to 8 years in prison and businessman Hamid Ismail to 2 years in prison after being found guilty of embezzlement.
All three were charged with the embezzlement of US$5 million that was paid to the State as acquisition cost for Maabinhura Island in Lhaviyani Atoll.
Citing security concerns, the court delivered its verdict behind closed doors.
Adeeb and Ziyath are also facing misappropriation charges over the lease of a lagoon in Male’ Atoll. Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges in the ongoing trial.
The Criminal Court earlier sentenced former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb to 15 years in jail for plotting to assassinate President Abdulla Yameen by setting off a bomb on his speedboat last September.
President Yameen had escaped unhurt, but the first lady sustained minor injuries. The then vice president was arrested one month later.
Adeeb was also convicted on a terrorism charge for possession of firearms and sentenced him to 10 years in prison on June 5.