Malé, Maldives – Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, who was sentenced to five years in jail after proven guilty of money laundering has been changed to house arrest.
In a tweet posted by Maldives Corrections Service, it stated that the Former President Yameen was changed to home amid the increased number of Covid-19 cases in the island of Maafushi and also because officers at Maafushi jail also tested for the virus.
While no further details had been released, Corrections had only stated that President Yameen was changed to house arrest temporarily.
The former presidents change to house arrest comes while opposition coalition had been protesting in the capital, calling out to change Former President Yameen to home during the month of ramadan.
Opposition coalition announced further protests while the Former Presidents family had requested him to be changed to home arrest for ramadan. The opposition had also called to transfer him after Covid-19 cases were found in Maafushi prison where the former president was being held.
During the press conference that was held earlier this month, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had stated the government is having discussions on transfer Yameen to house arrest.
President Solih stated that he received a letter from the wife of Former President Yameen requesting to change him to house arrest while stating his health condition. President Solih stated at the press conference that he will not allow any wrongs to befall on former President Yameen.
While facing additional charges, former President Yameen is currently serving a 5 year money laundering sentence at Maafushi Prison after he was found guilty of crediting one million dollars that was to be received by the state for the lease of Ga. Vodamula, via MMPRC. The verdict was passed by the Criminial Court on 28 November, 2019.
