While the High Court has completed the appeal hearings of former President Abdulla Yameen's jail sentence for bribery in the leasing of Vaavu Aarah three months ago, the court does not believe that is taking too much time to schedule the hearing for a verdict.
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.
The sentence was appealed at the High Court and the last hearing was held on November 21. On that day, closing statements were delivered and a verdict is now pending.
Yameen's lawyers and supporters have raised concerns over the delay in scheduling the hearing. When questioned about the matter, the High Court said the hearing had not yet been scheduled.
“The High Court does not believe that the hearing is delayed. It is a case that was concluded at the end of 2023. There are many cases filed in 2017, 2018 and 2019 that have not been concluded yet,” High Court Information Officer Ameen Faisal said.
There were many points of appeal filed by Yameen and 12 hearings were held at the High Court. The hearings were live-streamed for 35 hours including recesses during the hearings.
It is expected that the court will take some time to research and prepare statements ahead of the verdict.
Yameen is currently under house arrest despite the 11-year prison sentence. He has also been granted concessions and is now allowed to leave the house.
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.
