Malé, Maldives — The Prosecutor General’s Office has appealed the dismissal of charges against former Vice President Abdulla Jihad to the Supreme Court, marking the latest development in a high-profile case that has been ongoing since 2013.
Jihad, who currently serves as the Chairperson of the Maldives International Financial Service Authority (MIFSA), faced allegations stemming from his tenure as Minister of Finance. The charges are linked to the signing of a joint venture agreement with a foreign company to develop Fushidhiggaru Falhu, granting the government only a 25% stake in the project—a decision reportedly made against government advice.
Legal Background
The Criminal Court initially ruled that the case could not proceed due to procedural errors during the investigation. Dissatisfied with the decision, the Prosecutor General’s Office appealed to the High Court, arguing that the lower court’s ruling lacked clear reasoning and requesting a retrial.
However, the High Court faced complications in summoning Jihad, as his address remained unclear. Consequently, the court dismissed the case with the provision that it could be resubmitted once his address was verified.
On October 15, the Prosecutor General’s Office refiled the case after confirming Jihad’s address. However, the High Court registrar rejected the resubmission, stating that the deadline for filing the case had passed on October 12.
Appeal to Supreme Court
In light of the High Court’s decision, the state submitted the case to the Supreme Court on Sunday. The apex court has not yet decided whether to accept the appeal.
The case has drawn significant public attention, given Jihad’s prominent role in government and the controversial nature of the Fushidhiggaru Falhu agreement. Legal experts suggest the Supreme Court’s decision on whether to hear the appeal could set an important precedent for handling similar procedural disputes in the future.
Further updates are expected as the Supreme Court reviews the case.
