Transparency Maldives Condemns Pardoning of Adeeb and Ziyath

Transparency Maldives has criticized the decision to commute the sentences of Ahmed Adeeb and Abdulla Ziyath, just four days before the expiration of President Solih’s term. 

The organisation condemns this action as an abuse of the President’s clemency and sentence commutation powers, highlighting it as emblematic of the protection, impunity, and privilege enjoyed by the political elite who misuse their positions of power.

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President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih assumed office in 2018, promising a policy of zero tolerance for corruption. However, over the past five years, there has been a consistent pattern of corruption being overlooked, and individuals implicated in corrupt activities receiving protection.

In the MMPRC grand corruption scandal involving 281 individuals, including former and current state officials, judges, and parliamentarians, only three individuals have been convicted. 

Notably, the Commission on Corruption and State Asset Recovery’s report detailing the financial losses has never been made public, and efforts to recover the islands or establish a fair acquisition value have been lacking.

Despite revelations in the 2014 audit report on MMPRC and subsequent investigations exposing the embezzlement of billions of rufiyaa in the country’s largest grand corruption scandal, which was orchestrated by Adeeb and Ziyath, the recent commutation of their sentences is viewed as a direct contradiction of the principles essential for a just and accountable society. 

This move undermines ongoing efforts to combat corruption and kleptocracy, raising concerns about the commitment to addressing systemic gaps in laws, regulations, and practices that facilitated and protected such corruption.