The Civil Court has ordered former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Ghafoor to pay MVR 1 million to the state within one month. The ruling stems from an unpaid portion of the fine imposed by the Criminal Court in connection with the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption case.

In October 2020, the Criminal Court sentenced Adeeb to 20 years in prison and fined him MVR 2 million after finding him guilty of seven charges, including embezzlement, money laundering, misuse of official capacity, and using his position for personal gain. Despite the verdict, Adeeb had only paid part of the fine, leaving MVR 1 million unpaid.

The Attorney General’s Office filed a case with the Civil Court to enforce the judgment. In its ruling on Tuesday, the court directed Adeeb to pay the outstanding amount to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) within one month and ordered him to respect the terms of the Criminal Court’s verdict.

The seven charges proven against Adeeb include:

Two counts of involvement in embezzlement

Two counts of money laundering

Misuse of official capacity

Using influence of position to obtain undue advantage

Obtaining undue advantage through influence of position

These charges relate to his role in the MMPRC corruption scandal, which resulted in the embezzlement of millions in state funds during President Abdulla Yameen's administration.

After the 2018 government change, Adeeb signed a plea agreement with the state under President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration in September 2019. The agreement resulted in reduced sentences covering two embezzlement charges, three corruption charges, and two money laundering charges.

Despite being sentenced to 20 years in prison, Adeeb was kept under house arrest during the MDP administration. In November 2023, during the final days of President Solih's tenure, Adeeb was released under a clemency order. Shortly after his release, he fled the Maldives, prompting public criticism and scrutiny.