Sentencing in ex-President Yameen’s Aarah case preponed by five months

Sentencing in the money laundering case against former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom in connection to the sale of V. Aarah for resort development has been preponed by five months.

Originally, the sentencing in the case was scheduled for November 25. However, Yameen’s lawyer Adam Asif has confirmed to Sun that the sentencing has been preponed to June 30.

Asif alleges that the sentencing was preponed due to undue influence from the government, Judicial Service Commission and Parliament’s Judiciary Committee.

“Managing directors of some government companies have stated that Yameen will be jailed before Ramadan. Parliament’s Judiciary Committee convened for an extraordinary meeting out of session and decided to summon those related to the trial to the Committee in order to fast track Yameen’s case. There is no way to see this as not influencing,” he had said.

Yameen was charged with money laundering and taking a bribe in connection to the case in November 2021. 

He 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 is charged with giving a bribe in the same case. 

In the last hearing of the case held, Criminal Court’s Chief Judge Ahmed Shakeel who presides over the case stated that the hearings were being held after scheduling ahead of time.

Judge Shakeel also noted that decisions pertaining to each case will be made by the presiding judge over the case – adding that the court will not make any decisions for the purpose of delaying a certain case.

This is in reference to the fact that the presiding judge in Youth Minister Ahmed Mahloof’s bribery case had concluded to hold the hearings once the COVID-19 situation in the country improves.

Yameen had requested to livestream the hearings in the money laundering case against him. However, former Felidhoo MP Yoosuf Naeem, who is also a defendant in the case, had objected to livestreaming the hearings.

During the last hearing, Judge Shakeel said that the hearings cannot be livestreamed at the moment as the Court lacks the resources to do so. However, he added that as soon as they acquire the resources for livestreaming, the hearings in the case will be livestreamed as requested.