The Criminal Court has acquitted former Maldive Gas managing director Abdulla Maumoon of five counts of bribery, ruling that prosecutors failed to prove the required elements of the offences.

Maumoon had faced seven bribery charges over allegations that he accepted bribes in 2016 while serving as managing director of Maldive Gas during the former Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) administration. He was previously convicted on two of the charges and sentenced to 12 years, nine months and 18 days in prison, a sentence he is currently serving.

Following the end of the PPM administration, Maumoon remained abroad for an extended period while the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigated the case. He was indicted in early 2024 and barred from leaving the country after returning to the Maldives. A close associate of former president Abdulla Yameen, Maumoon was considered a highly influential figure within the former administration.

Prosecutor General’s Office has stated that the ruling will be appealed at High Court.