Malé, Maldives – Former President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom’s defence lawyers have requested for the defendant to be released on bail.
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 a verdict on that case was appealed at the High Court, on January 21, High Court announced that they will be upholding the verdict of the Criminal Court. The case was later appealed to the Supreme Court regarding this by Yameen’s Defense team.
Yameen’s lawyers filed two motions at the Supreme Court, one to release Yameen on bail and another for a stay of execution pending appeal for his Criminal Court sentence.
The case is being heard by a three-member bench, composed of presiding Justice Mahaz, Justice Azmiralda Zahir and Justice Mohamed Ibrahim.
Both the prosecution and defense have also requested to file additional evidence regarding the case to which the judges have decided to review the evidence and make a decision.
The judges have also allowed Yameen’s defense to submit their 22 appeal clauses to the court, of which only 7 were completed at today’s hearing. A hearing has been scheduled for tomorrow morning to continue with the rest of the clauses by the defense team.
The Prosecutor General is also currently charging Former President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom with accepting bribes worth MVR 117,000 during the lease of R. Fuggiri for the development of a tourist resort at the Criminal Court of Maldives. 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.
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.
