Former president Abdulla Yameen on Monday complained about criminal court hearings impeding an appeal of his 11-year prison sentence at the high court.
The presidential candidate of the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) coalition was convicted of accepting and laundering a USD 1.1 million bribe for leasing Vaavu Aarah. The appeal of the verdict is ongoing at the high court.
A trial over the leasing of Raa Fuggiri through the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption scandal that occurred during his administration is also ongoing at the criminal court.
A hearing in the trial that began at 9 am on Monday ended after 10 pm at night. The court heard testimony from former vice president Ahmed Adeeb and former MMPRC managing director Abdulla Ziyath.
As the trial was due to resume on Tuesday morning, Yameen expressed concern over consecutive hearings. A high court hearing due to take place on Tuesday was not scheduled because it clashed with the criminal court hearing, Yameen said.
Adhadhu has also learned that the high court tried to hold a hearing in the appeal of Yameen's prison sentence. But it was rescheduled for Thursday as the criminal court had sent the notice for Tuesday's hearing well in advance.
In addition to Yameen, lawyers representing the co-defendants in the trial also asked the criminal court to cancel Tuesday's hearing as time was needed for other cases involving their clients. The prosecutors said they did not object to any decision made by the judge.
Criminal court judge Ali Nadheem, who is presiding over the trial, said he did not want to cancel Tuesday's hearing and concluded Monday's hearing.
A hearing has also been scheduled for Wednesday.
Yameen will be barred from contesting in the upcoming presidential election unless his prison sentence is overturned.
According to the constitution, if a presidential candidate has been convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced to a term of more than 12 months, three years must have elapsed since his release or pardon.
PPM-PNC supporters have been staging nightly protests in the streets of Male' calling for Yameen's release.
