The Prosecutor General's Office (PG Office) has pressed new charges against former President Abdulla Yameen and three others over the corrupt lease of an island for resort development through Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC).
In addition to Yameen, PG Office pressed charges against Ahmed Kurik Riza, Sun Construction and Engineering Private Limited and Sun Investment Private Limited. All have been charged with money laundering in relation to the lease of Fuhgiri, Raa Atoll for resort development.
Yameen is accused of using his influence as the president to seek a bribe of USD 1.1 million with the help of Ahmed Kurik Riza, and laundering the money through Sun Construction and Engineering, and Sun Investment. PG Office said the case was investigated jointly by Maldives Police Service (MPS), Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Presidential Commission on Corruption and Asset Recovery.
The state is seeking a compensation of USD 38.3 million over the case. The compensation includes the funds which were extracted illegally, funds which were mixed with the illegally acquired funds as well as the fines over the actions.
Former President Yameen is currently serving a five-year prison sentence after being convicted of laundering USD 1 million in relation to the MMPRC corruption scandal. He has appealed the sentence at the High Court of the Maldives.