The Prosecutor General (PG)’s Office has announced plans to appeal a court ruling which found that charges against the Managing Director of SeaLife Global Inc Pvt Ltd, Ahmed Moosa Mohamed, were not proven.

The case centres on allegations that large sums of money were fraudulently obtained from multiple individuals under false pretences and subsequently misappropriated. Prosecutors had filed 42 counts of criminal breach of trust against Ahmed Moosa Mohamed.

The allegations stem from an agreement between the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and SeaLife Global Inc Pvt Ltd to develop 3,000 housing units in Hulhumalé. It was claimed that, despite receiving funds from individuals for the project, the company failed to complete the construction of the housing units within the agreed timeframe, and that the funds were misused.

However, following the trial, the Criminal Court ruled on Thursday that the charges had not been proven.

The court determined that the matter was civil in nature rather than criminal. It held that any action relating to the alleged conduct should be pursued through the civil justice system, rather than under criminal law.

Despite the ruling, PG Office stated that it maintains the charges meet the legal criteria for criminal breach of trust under Section 215 of the Penal Code. The Office further argued that the court failed to properly evaluate the evidence presented and misinterpreted the legal definition of the offence.

As such, the PG’s Office confirmed that it will appeal the decision at the High Court.