Former Managing Director (MD) of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) Abdulla Ziyath has pleaded guilty to 32 charges raised against him by the state.
Ziyath confirmed he had signed a plea deal with the state during the appeal hearing held on November 23 at the Supreme Court of the Maldives. During the hearing, when Justice Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim asked whether a letter was sent on behalf of Ziyath to withdraw the appeal case, Ziyath confirmed that he had sent the letter. He said the letter was sent on his own without any influence.
Criminal Court of the Maldives had sentenced Abdulla Ziyath to 8 years in prison after finding him guilty of embezzlement. He was charged for embezzling USD 5 million that was paid to the state as acquisition cost for Maabinhura in Lhaviyani Atoll, leased to be developed as a tourist resort.