Malé, Maldives – Former President Abdullah Yaameen Abdul Gayyoom has been brought to Malé from Dhoonidhoo Prison to investigate the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) case according to Police.
The former President was sentenced to 5 years in prison and fined USD 5 million earlier in November 2019.
President Yameen has currently served more than 400 days of his 5 year money laundering sentence after USD 1 million was found to have been transferred to his account under suspicions circumstances.
After he appealed this sentence at the High Court, highlighting a total of 75 points at the sentencing today, 2 of the 3 judges delivering the verdict supported Criminal Court’s decision.
President Yameen also has other ongoing cases against him. The Prosecutor General is currently charging the Former President of accepting bribes worth MVR 117,000 during the lease of R. Fuggiri for the development of a tourist resort. Along with the Former President, Ahmed Krik Rilhaa of MA.Kurikeelahiya, Male’, is also accused of being involved in the embezzlement of money in the case.
In addition to this, Sun Constructions and Engineering Private Limited and Sun Investment Private Limited are also accused of money laundering in the case. While President Yameen is accused of accepting bribery and money laundering, Ahmed Krik Rilhaa is being accused of being a medium during the transfer of bribery and of money laundering.
The Opposition coalition has been holding prostests in the capital Malé since earlier this year, asking for former President Yameen to be freed immediately. They have also asked for him to be transferred to house arrest in Malé for Ramadan. The current President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih recently said in a press conference that he will not let anything bad happen to former President Yameen.
