Maldivian, Bangladeshi jailed for over 8 Years in MPL fuel embezzlement case

A Maldivian man and a Bangladeshi national have each been sentenced to eight years, nine months and 18 days in prison for embezzling fuel purchased by Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) through Fuel Supply Maldives (FSM).

The defendants are Mohamed Aiman of Vaaruge, S. Feydhoo, and Bangladeshi national Sojib.

Both were convicted of embezzlement and the deliberate preparation of fraudulent documents to facilitate the offence.

According to the charges against Aiman, he orchestrated the fraudulent transaction while serving as Chief Manager of MPL's Procurement Department. Between January 13 and October 10, 2020, he allegedly instructed another MPL employee to sign and accept 119 fuel delivery notes despite the fuel never having been delivered.

The documents were subsequently entered into the company's system to falsely indicate that MPL had received 783,100 litres of diesel. Based on these records, MPL paid FSM MVR 6,799,800 (approximately USD 440,190) for fuel that had not been delivered.

Sojib, who worked as a fuel bowser driver for FSM, was accused of preparing the 119 fraudulent delivery notes and handing them to MPL Assistant Manager Hassan Didi to falsely document the delivery of the diesel.

His actions facilitated the misappropriation of the fuel purchased by MPL.

On Thursday, the court sentenced both defendants to eight years, nine months and 18 days in prison.

In addition to their prison sentences, the court ordered both men to jointly pay MVR 6,799,800 (approximately USD 440,190) to the State as compensation for the value of the embezzled fuel.