Male’, Maldives – At today’s hearing of Former President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayyoom over the lease of R. Fuggiri island in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) case, President Yameen has denied both new charges raised by the state.
The additional charges are that of accepting bribes and money laundering, under section 510, part (a) and (d) of the penal code, as well as section 53, part (a), section 5, part (a) (3) and section 53, part (b) of the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing Terrorism Act of the country.
After the state explained the charges against Former President Yameen, his defense stated that they reject these charges, and went into detail why.
The Head Judge on the case, Judge Mohamed Shakeel stated that an evidence submitting hearing in this case is to be held before the 10th of February 2021.
State representatives, at a previous hearing detailed movement of USD 1.3 million bribe taken via a mediator named Krik Riza in leasing of R. Fuhgiri,of which USD 1.1 million was transferred to an account of Sun Construction and Engineering.
An account belonging to Sun Investment then transferred the amount to President Yameen’s account in Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB). This amount was later transferred to a general investment account owned by President Yameen, and was invested by President Yameen. This money was requested to be taken back by the state reps.
However, refuting these claims, President Yameen said that the money transferred to his account from Sun Investment was for a currency exchange from MVR to USD, and he does not believe that currency exchange is a crime in any way.
President Yameen is currently serving a 5 year money laundering sentence at Maafushi Prison. Earlier this month, the appeal attempt failed at the High Court, when 2 of the 3 judges attending upheld the sentence.
This sparked widespread protests around the Maldives, which led to numerous arrests of opposition supporters.
