Malé, Maldives – Maldives Correctional Service (MCS) on Thursday cautioned the former President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom, who indirectly took part in the protest held by PPM while under house arrest.
The measure was taken against the former President in accordance with the Prisons and Parole Act (Act No.: 14/2013) which states that those serving a prison sentence shall not participate in a political party in a leadership position. Yameen was cautioned to not repeat such an action.
The Commissioner of Prisons of Maldives Correctional Services, Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu had previously stated that action will be taken against Yameen for taking part in the protest as he violated the terms of his house arrest.
While the Political party of Yameen, PPM held a nationwide protest on September 10, 2021 in the name of ‘Finding Justice’, Yameen participated in the protest that took place in the capital Male’ city from his house, leaving criticism from some and support from others. The former President stood near an open window of his home where the protesters could see him and waved at them. Videos and photos are also circulating in social media where the protestors handed Yameen some flags and he waved them along with the crowd.
At the protest, Yameen shook hands with the protestors and was also handed two flags, a flag of PPM and the national flag, which he continued to wave from his window despite being in house arrest.
While Yameen was sentenced to five years in jail after being convicted of money laundering, he was changed to house arrest on April 29, 2021, due to escalating Covid-19 numbers in Maafushi prison where the former president was detained.
