Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb has evaded a 10-year jail sentence for illegally carrying a firearm.
The former vice president was sentenced to 10-years to jail after the Criminal Court of Maldives found him guilty for illegally carrying a firearm, while the opposition was holding a mass protest on May Day 2015. The High Court of Maldives also upheld the ruling by the lower court. However, the Supreme Court of Maldives has now nullified the 10-year jail sentence on Adeeb served by the Criminal Court.
When Adeeb appealed the case at the Supreme Court, the state has conceded there is not enough evidence to suggest he held a real firearm. The state appealed the superior court to make a fair and just ruling, as the evidence against Adeeb is not strong. When asked if he ever carried a firearm, Adeeb maintained he was framed as part of the efforts to remove him as the vice president. He added the charges against him was political.
Former Vice President Adeeb has been sentenced to a total of 33-years on charges of terrorism, corruption and bribery. Meanwhile, High Court overturned the longest sentence on Adeeb, passed by the Criminal Court over the explosion on the presidential speedboat.
The 15-year jail sentence was overturned on May 20. With a total of 25 years nullified, former vice president is still serving a jail sentence of 8 years.