Ahmed Adheeb and Abdulla Ziyath, two of the most notorious figures tied to the Maldives’ largest corruption scandal, walked free under clemency during former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s administration, a move that continues to spark debate over accountability.

The MMPRC scandal, often described as the country’s most damaging case of public funds being siphoned away, saw millions of dollars diverted from the state to private accounts. Both Adheeb, the former vice president, and Ziyath, the then Managing Director of MMPRC, admitted in court to funnelling money for personal and political purposes. Their convictions came through plea agreements, with Adheeb sentenced to 20 years in prison and Ziyath also facing reduced jail time.

Yet, despite the sentences, their time behind bars was brief. Adheeb was transferred to a penthouse in Amin Avenue on medical grounds, spending most of his term in relative comfort, while Ziyath too was released to home confinement soon after his conviction. Their early release underlined a stark contrast with the treatment of ordinary offenders, fuelling public criticism and dissatisfaction.

The controversy deepened in the final days of Solih’s presidency, when Adheeb’s sentence was further reduced, leading to his full release. Ziyath was also freed. For many, these decisions left lingering questions about equal standards of justice and whether the powerful could evade the full weight of the law.

Solih’s presidency had already intersected with the MMPRC affair when his administration lifted an Interpol red notice against SOF company shareholders accused of laundering funds from the scheme. But his reasoning for later releasing Adheeb was never publicly explained. At the opposition rally earlier this month, the former president declined to comment when asked by reporters.

The MMPRC scandal remains one of the darkest chapters in recent history, a reminder of how public trust was broken and how justice, in the eyes of many, fell short. The release of Adheeb and Ziyath continues to be seen as part of that unresolved legacy, a story still shaping public memory of the past administration’s decisions.