Yameen appeals 11-year prison sentence with High Court

Former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has appealed his money laundering conviction with the High Court.

Yameen’s lawyer, Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed confirms the appeal was filed with the High Court on Tuesday.

In a tweet Tuesday, Jameel expressed confidence in winning the appeal.

“We have appealed President Yameen’s case. Upholding the rule of law in Maldives requires the existence of an independent judiciary free from government influence. Promotions and leak of videos of judges because of rulings is wrong. We will be victorious, In Sha Allah,” he said.

ރައީސް ޔާމީންގެ މައްސަލަ އިސްތިއުނާފް ކޮށްފިން. ރާއްޖޭގައި ރޫލް އޮފް ލޯ ނެގެހެއްޓޭނީ ސަރުކާރުގެ ނުފޫޒުން މިނިވަން ވެފައިވާ ޖުޑިޝަރީއެއް އޮވެގެން. ވަކި ޙުކުމެއް ކުރާތީ ފަނޑިޔާރުންނަށް ޕްރޮމޯޝަން ދިނުމާ އޯޑިއޯތައް ލީކުވުންފަދަ ކަންތައް ގޯސް. IA ކާމިޔާބުވާނެ pic.twitter.com/ntI9nOIMzn

— Mohamed Jameel Ahmed (@MJameelAhmed) February 21, 2023

Yameen was sentenced to 11 years in prison and fined USD 5 million on December 25, 2022, after he was found guilty of money laundering and bribery in connection to the sale of V. Aarah for resort development.

Yameen, who is the opposition PPM-PNC coalition’s presidential candidate, needs to win the appeal in order to be eligible for the presidential election in September.

The sentence against him had come a year after he was acquitted after getting convicted of similar charges in 2019.