Male’, Maldives – Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s lawyers have revealed they have finally been able to meet Yameen, who is currently serving his 5 year money laundering sentence at Maafushi Prison.
Head of Yameen’s defense team and also his former dismissed Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed has said that arranging a meeting with Yameen is like “waging a war”.
He explained that they have finally been able to meet Yameen today, the last time they met him being 6th of December, at a court hearing.
This comes after Yameen’s team of lawyers held a press conference yesterday, stating that they cannot meet the former president. During the conference they also heavily criticized Home Minister Imran Abdhullah and Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem today, accusing them of unlawful influence on the case and prejudice against Yameen.
Speaking at the news conference, Dr.Jameel said that while health authorities have been lifting may restrictions as the current Covid-19 situation is favorable in the Maldives, that it was unacceptable for them to do PCR test before meeting with their client. He added that the President and government officials have made multiple trips out of Male’ and no such actions were made mandatory.
However, Yameen’s lawyers have not been able to meet him since the 6th of December citing supposed policy changes. Jameel went on to question what change in the coronavirus situation caused this.
Yameen is currently appealing his 5 year money laundering case at the High Court, with hearings at the verdict stage. However, he is facing additional charges that are that of accepting bribery and money laundering, regarding a coverup for a USD 1,117,000 bribe taken via a mediator named Krik Riza in leasing of R. Fuhgiri to be developed as a tourist resort.
