Adeeb Files Part 1: the bagmen who moved millions

But beyond the headlines about corrupt judges and compromised MPs lies the mechanical heart of the country's biggest corruption scandal: how stolen millions physically moved from state coffers into private hands.

In this first part of a series examining the leaked messages in detail, we focus on then-tourism minister Adeeb's inner circle of childhood friends and business associates who became the trusted couriers and enablers behind the embezzlement of US$ 90 million from the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation. Together, they moved at least US$ 5 million in a single month, converting currencies, stuffing bags with cash, and delivering "gifts" that would buy votes and silence investigations.

The messages from June to October 2014 revealed a sophisticated operation run with shocking casualness – a group of young men in their early 30s who texted logistics like they were planning lunch.

Ziyath was the boss of the MMPRC when the government company created joint ventures to bypass competitive bidding and subleased 59 islands, lagoons and plots of land. When resort operators paid discounted acquisition fees to the MMPRC, Ziyath endorsed their cheques and diverted them to a shell company called SOF. 

After confessing together with Adeeb under plea deals, Ziyath was convicted on multiple counts over the misappropriation of the MMPRC funds. Both men were pardoned by former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih shortly before he left office in November 2023. 

The messages also revealed Ziyath's involvement in the MMPRC diverting US$ 6 million obtained from the Maldives Ports Limited and Maldives Tourism Development Corporation  in the guise of a loan and a currency exchange transaction. 

In a text sent to Adeeb past 4am on July 6, 2014, Ziyath asked company details, the registration certificate, signatory and a cheque for a US dollar payment. Ziyath then told Adeeb that he would confirm after discussing with "Ports."

This was followed by another text an hour later that sought approval for a message to a potential investor: “We would like to thank you for your interest in the project and would like to inform you that we will expedite the head lease agreement once the initial payment of 800,000 USD for the CSR component has been transferred. Also as per your proposal we accept the payment terms for the balance 500,000 USD to be paid in 5 equal instalments in the following 5 months. pls confirm bro.” 

About 30 minutes later, Ziyath sent another text message suggesting that MCM – a likely reference to the Millennium Capital Management of Hamid Ismail, an influential businessman and relative of Adeeb's – would suit the MMPRC's purposes.

Later in the morning of the same day, Ziyath prodded Adeeb for a response, saying he wanted to make the procedure look "ok" for making out a receipt after taking the "MMPRC cheque."

According to a damning audit released in October 2014, MMPRC collected MVR 76.8 million from MPL – ostensibly for conversion to US$ 5 million – and transferred the Rufiyaa to Millennium Capital Management, which then withdrew the full amount in cash. 

Hamid Ismail served more than two years prison on charges of aiding and abetting the theft of MMPRC funds through MCM.

Following the release of the audit report, the PPM-controlled parliament sacked Auditor General Ibrahim Niyaz and replaced him with Abdulla Ziyath's brother Hassan Ziyath.

Ziyath also sent Adeeb a flurry of messages about securing a job for his other brother Ibrahim Ziyath, who was appointed CEO of the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company in June 2016.

In 2021, the Anti-Corruption Commission sought corruption charges against the former MTCC boss.

“Where Adeeb Ibu Ziyath’s job. Contact me. After Celebrations," reads a message from July 21, 2014. A week later, following the resignation of Ibrahim Saleem as managing director of the Maldives Airports Company Ltd, Ziyath wrote to Adeeb: “Ibu Ziyath for MAC...Its on the news bro, its up to u bro, Pls do.” 

More requests were made concerning appointments. A message sent on August 10, 2014 reads: “Bro luey is interested to go to economic development as a state minister.”

On August 17, 2014, Ziyath urged Adeeb to appoint another friend as parliament’s Information Technology head because “we can do so much." He added: "I can have him install key loggers on all systems. Haha."

From August to September 2014, Ziyath continued to ask for a promised "gift" – “where is brother ziati’s present $150K Pls give" – before thanking him for upon receipt of a cheque: "Bro got the cheque thanks. Sacrificer reloaded.”

Also during August, Ziyath alerted Adeeb to requests and calls from the Auditor General's Office. “Bro audit has asked finance to get my salary details...so I feel they must still be keeping a close look on us…need to do something to that place," he suggested.

“Bro...must call and give warning to audit…They are calling non stop….should have some people surveil them and give a hard warning, I swear, to the investigating guy and auditor general. This is such a pain.” 

Ziyath and Adeeb discussed payments and resort "deals" in multiple messages with the names of uninhabited islands scattered throughout. 

“There is a head lease transfer form for tourism min...[MMPRC] is transferring the head lease right. For each transfer $5000, Where the $25000 for 5 islands bro [...] Better make it cash or something coz done want anyone like mode to know any details of our deals bro.”  

Oittey, a former national team football player, was one of three "bros" whose secretly-filmed confessions about delivering stolen cash appeared on the Al Jazeera documentary Stealing Paradise in September 2016. A childhood friend of Adeeb's, the pair later studied together in Sri Lanka. After Adeeb became tourism minister in March 2012, Oittey was hired as his driver. 

Oittey appears to have arranged the delivery of up to MVR 250,000 in the period covered by the forensic report.

In a typical text, Oittey asked Adeeb for “the cheque to Fayaz” on June 25, 2014. The recipient was most likely Colonel Ahmed Fayaz, known as Papa, who at the time was the head of the military's Special Protection Group in charge of the president's security.

Adeeb responded with instructions to give the “22,000 one to Fayaz.” 

On the same day, Oittey messaged about a ticket that needed to be bought before 1pm, to which Adeeb responded: “Take money from bag and buy.” 

160 text messages, 123 online messages 

Moho was the lead singer of a local band called Score of Flair. He later set up an eponymous graphic design business that became the primary vehicle for funnelling the stolen MMPRC funds. In the Al Jazeera exposé, Moho confirmed delivering or transferring sums between US$ 100,000 and US$ 1 million from SOF to politicians, senior government officials and former president Abdulla Yameen's relatives. 

The messages contain detailed updates that Moho sent Adeeb on bank balances and exchange rates. Moho regularly informed Adeeb after arranging transfers to carriers such as Oittey.  

“Bro where will u be around 12-12:30? So that I can ask mr.chan to deliver the cash?” he asked on September 22, 2014. 

On several occasions, Adeeb sent instructions to Moho concerning transfers and deposits. Messages also show Adeeb specifically asked him to arrange money. “Have you given 4000 usd to oyittey??” Adeeb asked on August 10, 2014.

“Bro can u make a cheque Total: $17,500. And come to pick me. Fantasy store," Adeeb wrote on July 26, 2014. The location appears to have been Adeeb's office in front of the Fantasy shop in Malé.

In one long message, Moho sent Adeeb a detailed ledger tracking nearly US$ 5 million in transactions from August 26 to September 23: