Hearings commence in Aarah money laundering case

The Prosecutor General’s Office has charged the former president with money laundering and taking a bribe in connection to the case in November 2021. 

Yameen is accused of misusing his position and taking a USD 1 million bribe as well as laundering the money in the sale of Aarah to Yoosuf Naeem, a former parliamentary representative for Felidhoo constituency. 

Meanwhile, Naeem has been charged with giving a bribe in the same case. 

Yameen, who arrived at the hearing with his team of lawyers were questioned by the presiding Judge Ahmed Shakeel whether documents related to the case were received. In response, the team relayed that the documents were received but that they did not get sufficient time to study them. 

Meanwhile, Naeem arrived solo at the hearing and requested the opportunity to hire a lawyer. Judge Shakeel then granted him a period of 10 days to get a lawyer. 

While this was a short hearing, Judge Shakeel stated that he will schedule further hearings in the next week as well as on the 27th of this month. 

Yameen had been convicted of similar charges back in 2019. However, he was issued an acquittal by the Supreme Court last November – just short of two years into his five-year prison term.