Male’, Maldives – The opposition has announced plans for immediate action, after the High Court upheld Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s 5 year money laundering sentence that the Criminal Court issued in November of 2019.
President of People’s National Congress (PNC), Abdul Raheem Abdulla (Adhurey) proposed this as a leadership declaration at an emergency meeting of the opposition progressive coalition earlier today. The declaration was passed unanimously by the members present.
The declaration stated that he believes the high court’s decision, with 2 of the 3 judges supporting the criminal court’s sentence, goes against shariah and the constitution, and is a politically engineered verdict.
It also stated that the sentence by the State has been invalid form the beginning, and the witnesses and evidence submitted by the state is also unacceptable, adding that the High Court’s verdict should be invalidated at once.
The Opposition also alleged that Former President’s appeal hearings at the High Court were extended due to interference by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Government, and the opposition promised to take immediate action called for the release of President Yameen.
