Former Vice President Abdulla Jihad has rejected the charges of corruption pressed by the state against him.
The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) charged Jihad over his role as the Minister of Finance in signing a joint venture agreement with Prime Capital Maldives Private Limited for the development of Fushi Dhiggaru as a Special Tourist Zone, granting 25% shares to the government. The PGO noted this had violated the decision made by the cabinet in 2011 to sign a joint venture agreement for Fushi Dhiggaru with 50% shares for the government.
Furthermore, PGO noted the agreement signed with Prime Capital Maldives had deprived the state of the land rent for Fushi Dhiggaru, amounting to over USD 750,000. The PGO said the reduction of the government shares from 50% to 25% also meant the profits of the state decreased.
During the first hearing of the trial, Jihad rejected the charges pressed against him. PGO subsequently presented witnesses and evidence against Jihad, including statements by former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb, documents from cabinet sessions and past statements by Jihad himself.
Following the presentation of evidence by the state, Jihad’s lawyers requested the court for more time to present evidence in defence. The Criminal Court granted Jihad 3 days to present witnesses and 14 days to submit all defence documents.
The case against Jihad was initially investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in 2013. However, ACC ruled in 2016 that there was no corruption involved in signing the agreement with Prime Capital Maldives. The investigation into the case was launched again by the Presidential Commission on Corruption and Asset Recovery, which was formed by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in 2018.
The Criminal Court had initially ordered to seize Jihad’s passport to prevent him from fleeing the country after the corruption charges were pressed against him. However, upon appeal by the defendant, the High Court overturned the Criminal Court’s decision and ordered to release Jihad’s passport. PGO has since appealed the High Court decision at the Supreme Court of the Maldives.
Abdulla Jihad had served as the third vice president of former President Abdulla Yameen’s government. Before his appointment as Vice President, Jihad had served as the Minister of Finance under former President Yameen as well as former President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik.