Former Maldive Gas MD Sentenced to Over 12 Years for Corruption

The former Managing Director of Maldive Gas, Abdulla Maumoon — widely known as Maanu — has been sentenced to 12 years and nine months in prison after being found guilty on two counts of bribery.

The Criminal Court delivered the verdict following a series of corruption allegations dating back to 2016, during Maumoon’s tenure as head of the state-owned company. Maumoon was previously a close associate of then-President Abdulla Yameen and First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim.

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Bribery Scheme Involving 3DH International

According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, Maumoon accepted a total of USD 298,403.50 in illicit payments through seven separate bank deposits linked to 3DH International, a company contracted to supply liquid petroleum to Maldive Gas.

The court heard that:

• On 7 April 2016, USD 29,941.50 was transferred to Maumoon’s BML account.
• In June 2016, USD 49,921.50 was deposited into an account at Bank of Ceylon, and USD 12,201.50 into an account belonging to his company, Mon Arc Pvt Ltd.
• On 4 August 2016, USD 49,949.50 was sent to Mon Arch Private Limited’s BML account.
• On 9 April 2017, USD 24,930 was deposited into an account under I Developers Private Limited, also linked to Maumoon.
• On 31 May 2017, USD 46,555 was transferred to his Maldives Islamic Bank account.
• On 23 August 2017, USD 49,955 was deposited into another Maldives Islamic Bank account belonging to Monarch Private Limited.
• The seventh charge involved USD 34,950 transferred to an account held by Maumoon’s half-brother, Ahmed Hameed, on 8 October 2017.

Harsher Sentence Sought by State

Although the standard penalty for bribery in the Maldives is three years, two months and 12 days, prosecutors sought an aggravated sentence, arguing the scale of the misconduct warranted stronger deterrence. The court agreed, expanding the sentence accordingly.

If Maumoon is convicted on the remaining five charges still pending, his prison term could increase further.

Fled Country After 2018 Election

Following Abdulla Yameen’s defeat in the 2018 presidential election, Maumoon reportedly fled the Maldives while the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) was investigating him. The ACC continued its probe during President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration, leading to formal charges being filed last year.

Upon his return to the country, the court imposed a travel ban.

Second High-Profile Conviction This Week

This ruling marks the second major corruption verdict issued by the Criminal Court this week. Earlier, former Fenaka Corporation Managing Director Ahmed Saeed — who served under the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government — was sentenced to four years in prison.