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Chief Justice gives PG two days to decide on Maabinhura case

Chief Justice Dr Ahmed Abdulla Didi has granted Prosecutor General's Office (PG Office) two days to decide on whether to continue the appeal against the decision made by High Court to overturn the jail sentence of former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb over corruption charges in leasing Maabinhura.

The state prosecutor said during the hearing at Supreme Court on Wednesday that PG office does not want to continue the appeal presently given that Adeeb has signed an agreement with the state to cooperate regarding in return of more lenient court proceeding. The agreement states the appeal was not to be continued should Adeeb admits to accused crimes at the court and the appeal is only to be continued if Adeeb denies charges against him.

However, Chief Justice Ahmed Abdulla Didi reacted angrily to the statement of the public prosecutor saying cases submitted to the Supreme Court cannot be kept pending without proceedings. He further said the PG Office must make a decision to continue or remove the appeal, and granted two days to make the decision.

Adeeb was found guilty of embezzling USD 5 million owed to the state as the acquisition cost of Maabinhura, which resulted in an 8 year jail sentence. The High Court dismissed the jail sentence issued by the Criminal Court and ordered a retrial. However, the Criminal Court decided to forward the case back to PG Office for further investigations. Adeeb has been under custody until the investigations are over.

The case is adjudged at the Supreme Court by Chief Justice Dr. Ahmed Abdulla Didi and Judge Abdulla Areef and Judge Abdul Ghanee Mohamed.