High Court suspends USD 5 million fine imposed on Yameen

Aug 13, 2023, 2:24 PM

The High Court has ordered to postpone the execution of a USD 5 million fine imposed on former President Abdulla Yameen by the Criminal Court.

The Criminal Court imposed the fine and sentenced him to 11 years in prison after finding him guilty of taking a USD 1.1 million bribe and laundering the money.

Yameen's lawyer appealed the sentence and asked for a postponement of the jail sentence and the fine.

The judges unanimously ordered not to proceed with any case filed in the High Court for the recovery of the fine until the case is resolved.

The High Court also ordered the Maldives Revenue Authority (MIRA) or any other government agency not to take any action to recover the fine.

However, the court refused to suspend the prison sentence.

The order to suspend the fine came after the Attorney General's Office (AG) filed a case in the Civil Court to recover the USD 5 million owed within six months.

Yameen is the leader of the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) coalition.

He was the presidential candidate of the coalition, but the Supreme Court ruled that he is ineligible due to the prison sentence.

Former President Abdulla Yameen High Court

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