Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath has announced the state will go to court to seek the fine of USD 5 million which was imposed on former President Abdulla Yameen after he was found guilty of money laundering.
On November 28, 2019, the Criminal Court of the Maldives sentenced Yameen to five years in prison and handed him a fine of USD 5 million to be paid to Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) by May 28, 2020. However, Yameen has not paid the fine by the set deadline. The attorney general revealed efforts are underway to prepare a court case to seek the fine imposed on the former president, adding the state will carry out due proceedings to pursue the fine as stated by the law.
Former President Yameen was found guilty of laundering USD 1 million deposited to his bank account by SOF Private Limited from funds embezzled through the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). An appeal has been submitted at the High Court of the Maldives to overturn the prison sentence, while a request was also submitted to release Yameen on bail until the appeal case is concluded. However, the bail plea was rejected by the High Court.