Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor has pleaded guilty to the obstruction to law enforcement charge raised against him.
During the hearing held at the Criminal Court on Tuesday, the State said Adeeb was caught while attempting to flee the country via the sea route on August 3, when he had a travel ban imposed on him. The State noted that according to criminal procedure laws, the offence is a first degree felony punishable by a jail sentence of four months and 24 days.
During the hearing, Adeeb said he attempted to flee the country in order to seek foreign asylum as he was receiving death threats. While he pleaded guilty to the charges, he has given a statement to the police on which he confessed to his crime, he said in court. During the hearing, he apologized for his actions and assured that he would not repeat such an action in future.
According to the criminal procedure act, the admission of guilt will lighten the sentence to 3 months and 18 days. During Tuesday's hearing, the presiding judge made the decision to hold a sentencing hearing in five days to deliver an expedited ruling due to his admission.
After being acquitted of multiple charges against him, Adeeb last August attempted to flee the country in a tugboat to neighboring India disguised as a member of the crew. While he had a travel ban imposed on him as he remained a subject of investigation for alleged misappropriation of state funds, corruption and money laundering, he was discovered by Indian authorities and returned to Maldives.
Upon his return, the Supreme Court ordered to detain Adeeb under state custody until the end of his corruption trial over the leasing of Maabinhuraa island, as per the Prosecutor General's Office request to detain Adeeb as he remained a flight risk.
Adeeb recently testified against former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom in his money laundering trial. In his testimony, Adeeb admitted to having carried out illegal activities on the orders of President Yameen. He has since been electronically tagged and transferred to home arrest.
Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor
