Former President Abdulla Yameen has requested the Supreme Court of the Maldives to release him on parole.
During his appeal hearing, Yameen requested the Supreme Court to postpone the implementation of the prison sentence against him and to release him on parole. Additionally, Yameen's legal team had submitted the appeal documents at the appeal hearing.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court accepted the request from Yameen's legal team to give them two more days to prepare for the appeal hearings. The appeal hearings are being presided over by a Supreme Court bench consisting of Justice Mahaaz Ali Zahir, Justice Dr. Azmiralda Zahir, and Justice Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim.
In 2019, the Criminal Court of the Maldives sentenced Yameen to five years in prison with a fine of USD 5 million, after he was found guilty of the money laundering charges the state had pressed against him.Yameen was found guilty of laundering USD 1 million received as the acquisition cost for the lease of Vodamula, Gaafu Alifu Atoll, for resort development through Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC).
Furthermore, Yameen is currently undergoing two more trials on charges related to corruption, bribery, and money laundering. As such, Yameen has been charged with using his influence as the president to seek a bribe of USD 1.1 million during the lease of Fuhgiri, Raa Atoll for resort development through MMPRC, and laundering the money. He has also been charged over the embezzlement of USD 1 million during the lease of Aarah, Vaavu Atoll for resort development through MMPRC.