Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to forward a case to the Prosecutor General’s Office requesting money laundering charges against MHR Trading in connection with the MMPRC graft case, the largest corruption scandal in recent Maldivian history.
The ACC's investigation revealed that funds from SOF's account, the company used to disperse embezzled MMPRC funds, were deposited into MHR Trading's account.
This includes $325,000 owed to MMPRC, which was deposited into the account of "Tharukaaree Fiyaara", a business operating under MHR Trading.
"Although the company attempted to frame these funds as transactions involving the purchase and sale of US dollars, they failed to prove during the investigation who provided those checks to the company or how the corresponding Maldivian Rufiyaa was remitted," the ACC stated.
Additionally, the investigation uncovered that $50,000 paid as the acquisition fee for ADh. Fushidhigga, an island leased through the MMPRC scandal, was also deposited into MHR Trading's account. Abdulla Ziyath played a key role in depositing these funds.
"The investigation established that communications took place between Abdulla Ziyath and the Managing Director of MHR Trading regarding the checks, creating circumstances where the MD of MHR Trading had reason to suspect that the money deposited into MHR's account was derived from criminal activity," the ACC added.
In addition to seeking money laundering charges against the company, the ACC has decided to instruct MMPRC to recover the equivalent sum of MVR 5,011,500 deposited via SOF checks. Furthermore, the commission has decided to order MMPRC to recover the $50,000 paid for Fushidhigga's acquisition fee, along with any profits generated from investing those funds.
