Yameen transferred to temporary house arrest

Former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom – who was ordered to jail pending the outcome of his money laundering trial – has been transferred to house arrest.

Yameen was charged with money laundering and issuing false statements to State institutions following Maldives Police Service’s investigation into a USD 1 million deposit to one of his accounts. The USD 1 million is believed to be part of the funds embezzled in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) scam.

Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Yameen on February 18 based on a police intelligence report which indicated he attempted to tamper with witness testimony by offering bribes to the witnesses.

Maldives Correctional Service has issued a statement confirming the former President was transferred to housing arrest last Wednesday night.

The authority said the decision was based on doctor’s instructions.

“Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has been transferred to temporary house arrest tonight based on the doctor’s instructions due to his health condition,” announced MCS.

MCS added that the house arrest is conditional, and that both Yameen and his spouse – former First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim have agreed to abide by the conditions.

Yameen, since his arrest on February 18, has been hospitalized at the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) on three occasions.

Neither the family nor his attorneys have disclosed the nature of his illness. However, Yameen was treated at IGMH by the cardio department.