Malé, Maldives – The Criminal Court hearing regarding the money laundering and bribery case against former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom over the sale of R. Fuhgiri for resort development, scheduled for 09:00, today, has been cancelled.
The hearing set for 09:00 on Sunday morning was delayed past 10:30 due to technical difficulties.
While the preliminary hearings were conducted against the defendants separately, Presiding Judge Ahmed Shakeel decided to hold hearings against all defendants together which lead to technical difficulties in connecting various locations. In addition, there were requests to changes to lawyers this morning.
The Prosecutor General is currently charging the Former President with 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 through Sun Construction & Engineering Pvt. Ltd. and Sun Investments Pvt. Ltd.
The Criminal Court decided to cancel today’s hearing pending hearings scheduled for 16 September 2021 to review filings by defendants Sun Construction & Engineering Pvt. Ltd. and Sun Investments Pvt. Ltd and Krik Riza.
In November 2019, the Criminal Court sentenced that Yameen was guilty of laundering USD 1 million of the government through MMPRC by leasing GA. Vodamula. While the former President was sentenced to 5 years in prison and fined USD 5 million on November 8, 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 suspicious circumstances.
Most recently, the Former President is accused of laundering MVR 15.3 million (USD 1 million) involving the sale of V. Aarah to a foreign party.
Former President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom is currently under house arrest at his official residence in the capital city Malé after being transferred out of Maafushi Jail due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
