ACC Seeks Money Laundering Charges Against Adeeb-Linked Montillion over MMPRC Funds
Former VP Ahmed Adeeb. | Photo: Adeeb
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Maldives Police Service have submitted a request to the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO), to seek money laundering charges against Montillion International Private Limited after an investigation found that USD 150,000 in funds allegedly embezzled from the MMPRC scandal was deposited into the company’s account.
The joint investigation concluded on 4 October, with the case being forwarded to the Prosecutor General’s Office for charges under Sections 53 and 58 of the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act.
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According to the ACC, the USD 150,000 was transferred through two cheques drawn from the US dollar account of SOF Private Limited at the Bank of Maldives. The cheques were allegedly facilitated through former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb.
The investigation found that there was reasonable cause for the person managing Montillion at the time to suspect that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity. Despite this, the funds were deposited into Montillion’s account and subsequently used, according to the ACC and police.
The ACC has also instructed the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) to recover the USD 150,000 deposited through the two cheques.
The case is linked to the wider MMPRC corruption scandal, involving the alleged embezzlement of funds from the state-owned tourism promotion company during the administration of former President Abdulla Yameen. The ACC has previously concluded 115 MMPRC-related fraud cases and instructed the recovery of MVR 640 million.
Former Vice President Adeeb, who was involved in the MMPRC scandal, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to seven fraud charges. He was later granted clemency by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.
The ACC and police’s latest action comes as criminal proceedings relating to the MMPRC scandal continue, including cases against former President Yameen concerning the leases of V. Aarah and R. Fuggiri.
