Malé, Maldives – The Supreme Court (SC) of Maldives today scheduled to make a decision on the evidence submitted by former President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom’s defence team on Tuesday.
The Court made the decision after the defence team was given the chance to submit new evidence to the court during the SC trial. The prosecution was also given the opportunity to provide refuting statements at the SC hearing today.
The defence submitted various evidence including an alleged audio clip of former President of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Muawiz Rasheed.
Address the relevancy, credibility & availability when submitting new evidence.
Justice Mahaz to President Yameen’s defence
When the Presiding Supreme Court Judge Mahaz Ali Zahir questioned the credibility of the audio and the proof that the speaker is Muawiz, the defence stated that they have not submitted the audio to any party for analysis.
The former President’s defence team presented a video clip from a press conference by former Vice President Ahmed Adheeb with two supporting witnesses in addition to the alleged audio clip of the former ACC President. The defence also submitted a letter by former ACC President Hassan Luthfy.
The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) petitioned against admitting the new evidence.
The decisions on accepting the new evidence by defence, along with the appeal to free Yameen on bail and stay of execution pending the appeal will be made tomorrow.
n 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 by Yameen’s 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.
