The appeal of jail sentences handed to former President Abdulla Yameen and Yoosuf Naeem has neared conclusion at the High Court
Yameen and Naeem were convicted over alleged corruption in the leasing of Vaavu Aarah in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption scandal that occurred during Yameen’s administration.
Yameen was found guilty of accepting and laundering a USD 1.1 million bribe for the resort lease transaction. The Criminal Court sentenced him to 11 years in prison and imposed a fine of USD 5 million.
Former MP Yoosuf Naeem was convicted of bribery and sentenced to three years in prison.
At the last two appeal hearings, the High Court judges hearing the case posed questions to the appellants and prosecution to seek clarification about the lower court trial.
The questioning took three hours during last Thursday’s hearing and Monday’s hearing also went on for three hours.
Concluding the hearing, the judges said closing arguments would be heard at the next hearing.
Each of the parties would have 30 minutes to present closing statements on the bribery charge and one hour on the money laundering charge.
Yameen is the leader of the Progressive Party of Maldives-People's National Congress (PPM-PNC) coalition.
The coalition’s ticket for the presidential election was first awarded to Yameen but he was barred from contesting due to his conviction.
Separate bribery and money laundering charges over alleged corruption in the lease of Raa Fuggiri were also raised against Yameen. The trial is ongoing at the Criminal Court but hearings have not been held now in several weeks.
