As the High Court heard closing arguments on Tuesday, the prosecution responded to allegations from former President Abdulla Yameen’s lawyers about unfairly singling him out and raising charges with the intention of bringing him into disrepute.
Yameen and former MP Yoousuf 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.
Delivering the closing statement from the state, Public Prosecutor Ahmed Shafeeu said the prosecution based its arguments at every stage during the trial on evidence and witness testimony.
“The state did not make any false statements. The state did not discriminate against President Yameen or proceed as a selective prosecution,” he said.
Apart from Yameen and Yoosuf Naeem, others convicted over the MMPRC corruption were the scheme’s chief architect, former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb, and the MMPRC’s former managing director Abdulla Ziyath.
Adeeb and Ziyath served most of their sentences under house arrest. Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih recently commuted their sentences and Adeeb is now out of the country.
In addition, Yameen, Ahmed ‘Krik’ Riza and the Sun companies were charged over alleged corruption in the lease of Raa Fuggiri. But the charges against Krik Riza were withdrawn to be resubmitted later.
Charges were also raised against Aishath Azima Shukoor, former Legal Affairs Minister in Yameen’s government, former MP Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik and President Solih’s Youth Minister Ahmed Mahloof.
Charges against Mahloof were withdrawn, citing lack of evidence for conviction.
At Tuesday’s appeal hearing, Shafeeu said the prosecution of other suspects was proof that the state was not selectively targeting or singling out Yameen.
The state was concerned about some of the other cases being stalled at court, he added.
“There are those that were prosecuted and convicted in this case as well. Charges have been filed and are ongoing at court. There is also concern that those cases are stalled and not moving ahead at court,” Shafeeu said.
All parties were allowed to present closing arguments on Tuesday. If the judges do not need any further clarifications during their deliberations, a judgment will be delivered at the next hearing.
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.
Freeing Yameen through legal means is a pledge of the new President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
Yameen and supporters of the PPM-PNC coalition that he leads believes that the charges raised against him were politically motivated.
Despite his 11-year prison sentence, Yameen is currently at home and confined to Male'.
Following President Solih’s defeat in the presidential election, Yameen was first transferred to house arrest. He was later granted privileges to be able to move freely in the Male' region.
