A Bangladeshi expatriate convicted of running an illegal recruitment and money laundering operation that generated more than MVR 8 million has been sentenced to two years in prison after entering a plea deal with the state.
The case centers on Shahadath Hussain, 34, who had been living in the Maldives since 2014. Police revealed details of the racket in May, stating that Shahadath operated with the help of several local collaborators, including immigration officials.
Despite being officially employed as an “office boy,” Shahadath’s records showed a monthly salary of USD 3,000, raising suspicion. In 2019, he opened six bank accounts at the Bank of Maldives—three in Maldivian rufiyaa and three in US dollars. Between 2019 and 2024, more than MVR 8 million was deposited into these accounts. His work permit later expired in July 2024 after visa fees were not paid.
Investigators found that Shahadath and his associates ran an illegal recruitment agency that manipulated the system to issue fake work permits. Foreign workers reportedly paid for these permits, with much of the money eventually transferred to accounts in Bangladesh.
Shahadath initially faced five charges, including money laundering, bribery, failure to obtain authorization, and two counts related to forged official documents. The state also sought to seize the MVR 8 million found in his bank accounts.
Under a plea agreement, Shahadath pleaded guilty to money laundering and bribery, while the remaining charges were dropped. The plea deal resulted in a reduced sentence.
The Criminal Court sentenced him to two-and-a-half years in prison and fined him MVR 53,400 for money laundering, along with six months in prison and a fine of MVR 21,600 for bribery—both well below the minimum sentences prescribed by law. After adjusting for time already served, he has two years, one month, and 12 days remaining on his sentence.
Police searches of Shahadath’s phone and laptop uncovered forged work permit documents, passport photos of foreign workers, Maldivian ID cards, and evidence of unauthorized access to government systems, including the Xpat system. Investigators said the data showed fake credentials linked to 574 entities, including businesses, partnerships, foreign companies, and individuals.
