The Supreme Court rejected today a constitutional case filed over the alleged infringement of opposition presidential candidate and former President Abdulla Yameen's electoral rights due to delays in concluding the appeal of his 11-year prison sentence at the High Court.
Adhadhu has confirmed that the Supreme Court's registrar has rejected the case. But neither the Supreme Court nor Yameen's lawyers were immediately available for comment.
Yameen's legal team petitioned the Supreme Court to ensure Yameen's basic rights and electoral rights. The opposition leader has been deprived of his rights because of the delay in the High Court appeal, the defense lawyers argued.
“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.
Yameen was sentenced to 11 years in prison after he was found guilty of accepting a USD 1.1 million bribe from Yoosuf Naeem to lease Vaavu Aarah.
The appeal of the verdict started at the High Court last month but no hearing has been held since the Eid holidays. Judge Huzaifa Mohamed took leave first to attend to family reasons and Judge Mohamed Saleem is now on leave.
The Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) awarded the coalition's presidential ticket to Yameen, but his candidacy cannot be accepted unless the conviction is overturned, Elections Commission (EC) President Fuwad Thowfeek has said.
Yameen is also on trial on bribery and money laundering charges over the lease of Raa Fuggiri island. He is accused of accepting a USD 1.1 million bribe through Ahmed 'Krik' Riza and of laundering the money through two Sun companies.
The trial is ongoing at the Criminal Court with consecutive hearings held close together.
The EC invited applications from presidential candidates today. President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as well as Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim and Maldives National Party leader Mohamed Nazim are contesting in the September 9 election.
Only Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb has stood in the presidential primary of The Democrats formed by Speaker Mohamed Nasheed.
The PPM insists that Yameen remains its presidential candidate.
