A constitutional case has been filed at the Supreme Court, claiming that jailed opposition leader and former President Abdulla Yameen's electoral rights are being infringed, due to delays in his appeal trial at the High Court.
Yameen was jailed for 11 years over corruption in the leasing of Vaavu Aarah in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) scandal. He appealed the decision, but hearings have stalled at the High Court.
“I have filed a constitutional case in the Supreme Court of Maldives on behalf of President Yameen to ensure his rights,” lawyer Adam Shameem tweeted.
The appeal hearings have stalled after Justice Huzaifa Mohamed went on leave for family reasons while Justice Mohamed Saleem is also on leave. No hearings have been held for over a month.
The Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) coalition has awarded their presidential ticket to Yameen, but he will not be eligible to contest if the sentence is not overturned.
