Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor has requested to broadcast his trial live on television.
Adeeb's attorney Mahufooz Saeed informed AVAS that his client has requested the Criminal Court to broadcast all trials on his charges live on television. The letter said he wished to to carry out his trial in the most transparent manner as it concerned the public.
While the former vice president has made such a request, the only trial broadcast live on television thus far in Maldives is former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom's money laundering trial. Adeeb himself had testified against the former president in the trial.
Seven charges have been raised against Adeeb by the Prosecutor General over the MMPRC corruption scandal and money laundering activities that occurred between 2014 and 2015.
The charges were raised after the Presidential Commission on Asset Recovery, the Anti-Corruption Commission and Maldives Police Service concluded their joint investigation into the activities and forwarded it for prosecution.
While Adeeb was convicted on one charge over the Maabinhuraa island corruption in the MMPRC scandal, the High Court dismissed the conviction and ordered the Criminal Court to conduct a re-trial. High Court's decision has now been appealed at the High Court by the state. The court has ordered to detain him until the end of his ongoing trial. However, he is being held under home arrest.
Adeeb fled to Tuticorin, India while a travel ban was imposed on him a few months ago. He was sentenced to three months and 18 days in jail over his flee attempt after pleading guilty to an obstruction to law enforcement charge.
Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor
