President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said on Wednesday that he will not exert influence on the judiciary to release jailed former President Abdulla Yameen despite pressure from the opposition.
The opposition leader is serving an 11-year prison sentence for a bribery and money laundering conviction over the lease of Vaavu Aarah in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption scandal.
Speaking during a campaign gathering in Baa Kudarikilu, Solih who is running for re-election said Yameen was jailed for keeping state money in his personal account and his punishment was determined by the court.
"They are calling on us to free him after the court decided the punishment. How can we do that? The courts work independently and we have to facilitate and uphold the due process," Solih stated.
The President further said that he has no intention of influencing the work of the judiciary and that the system should function independently.
Yameen was barred from contesting in the September 9 presidential election due to the conviction and sentence. His lawyers have appealed at the High Court.
