Maldives Police Service (MPS) has forwarded charges against former President Abdulla Yameen over the embezzlement of USD 1 million during the lease of Aarah, Vaavu Atoll for resort development.
The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) confirmed that it had received the charges from MPS upon conclusion of the investigation into the case. PGO stated the charges are being reviewed before making a decision on pressing the charges in court.
Aarah, which is located near Thinadhoo in Vaavu Atoll, had been leased to a private company when it was taken back and handed over to the Island Council of Vaavu Atoll Felidhoo in 2015. The island was later handed over to a company called 2G Maldives, before leasing the island again to a foreign company. The embezzlement of funds acquired from the lease of Aarah was uncovered during the investigation of the corruption scandal of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC).
Former President Yameen is already serving a 5-year prison sentence, after the Criminal Court of the Maldives found him guilty of laundering USD 1 million received as the acquisition cost for the lease of Vodamula, Gaafu Alifu Atoll for resort development through MMPRC. He is also currently under trial for another case of money laundering and accepting USD 1.1 million in bribes for the lease of Fuhgiri, Raa Atoll, for resort development through MMPRC.