High Court Seizes SeaLife MD’s Passport in Embezzlement Appeal

The High Court has issued a stay order to seize the passport of Ahmed Moosa Mohamed (Ammaty), Managing Director of SeaLife Global Inc. Pvt Ltd, following a request from the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO).

In a statement, the PGO confirmed it has appealed a Criminal Court ruling dated 9 April 2026, which dismissed 42 counts of embezzlement filed against Ahmed Moosa. The office argued that the trial court had improperly assessed the evidence and wrongly categorised the matter as civil rather than criminal.

According to the PGO, the appeal seeks a declaration that the elements of the alleged offences were incorrectly interpreted and that the case warrants criminal consideration under the law.

The case relates to a 2014 agreement between the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and SeaLife Global Inc. Pvt Ltd for the development of 3,000 housing units, commonly referred to as the SeaLife Complex.

Prosecutors allege that the company failed to complete the project within the agreed timeframe and instead collected substantial sums from buyers under false pretenses. These funds were reportedly misappropriated.

Charges were filed on 30 May 2021 under Section 215(a), read in conjunction with Section 215(b) of the Penal Code. The PGO stated that the case involves funds collected from individuals who were promised housing that was never delivered.

Local media reports indicate that approximately 280 buyers paid booking fees—often exceeding MVR 50,000—with total collections estimated at more than MVR 14 million.

In its ruling, the Criminal Court concluded that the prosecution had not proven the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The presiding judge determined that the transactions constituted contractual or business dealings, and that any dispute should be addressed through civil proceedings rather than criminal prosecution.

The High Court’s decision to seize Ahmed Moosa’s passport comes as the appeal process moves forward.

The case has been widely described as one of the largest alleged housing-related fraud cases in the Maldives. In response to the fallout from the failed project, the government had also offered relief to some affected buyers by facilitating their inclusion in alternative housing schemes.