Supreme Court schedules appeal over ex-President Yameen conviction for September

Supreme Court is set to begin appeal hearings over the money laundering conviction issued against former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom in September. 

The top court accepted the appeal lodged by Yameen over his five-year sentence last April. 

According to the Supreme Court, a hearing in the case is scheduled for 09:00 am on September 13. 

Yameen was found guilty of laundering USD 1 million from the sale of GA. Vodamula  by the Criminal Court on November 28, 2019. Yameen promptly appealed the conviction with the High Court, which sided against him and ruled to uphold the original sentence on January 21, 2021. 

The High Court bench which oversaw the appeal was composed of three judges, two of whom decided in favor of upholding the sentence – Judge Hussain Mazeed and Judge Mohamed Niyaz. Judge Hussain Shaheed offered a dissenting opinion.  

Yameen is also currently on trial for money laundering and bribery charges in connection to the sale of R. Fuggiri for resort development.