The Criminal Court of the Maldives has ruled that the trial on the money laundering and bribery charges pressed against former President Abdulla Yameen can proceed as a civil trial.
On June 28 last year, the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) pressed new charges against the jailed former president over the corrupt lease of Fuhgiri, Raa Atoll for resort development through Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). Yameen is accused of using his influence as the president to seek a bribe of USD 1.1 million and laundering the money.
During the online hearing held on September 5, the evidence by the defendant was presented to the court. Based on the evidence presented by the defendant, the presiding judge ruled that the trial can proceed as a civil trial. However, due to technical difficulties that led to delays in starting the hearing as scheduled, the judge decided that presentation of evidence by both sides will be completed during a separate hearing.
Former President Yameen is already serving a 5-year prison sentence, after the Criminal Court of the Maldives found him guilty of laundering USD 1 million received as the acquisition cost for the lease of Vodamula, Gaafu Alifu Atoll for resort development through MMPRC. In addition, Maldives Police Service (MPS) has forwarded additional charges against the former president over the embezzlement of USD 1 million during the lease of Aarah, Vaavu Atoll for resort development through MMPRC.