Prosecutor General (PG) Hussain Shameem states he will look closely into the investigation of the alleged audio leak of the Criminal Court judges. He made the statement in a meeting with senior members of the opposition Progressive Coalition.
At the meeting, the senior opposition members expressed their concern over the case and requested that the PG look into the matter. After the meeting, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) confirmed that Shameem will be looking into the investigation.
Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the Maldives Police Service (MPS) are currently investigating the case of the audio leak, in which the judges that presided over former President Abdulla Yameen's case allegedly claimed they were influenced in issuing the prison sentence on money laundering charges. JSC has taken statements from the judges involved and provided audio samples to MPS, with their consent, to conduct an analysis. The judges have denied making any such claims regarding Yameen's trial and denied the legitimacy of the leaked audio.
The Criminal Court sentenced Yameen to five years in prison in November 2019, after being convicted of laundering USD 1 million embezzled from the state through the lease of an island for resort development.
The opposition coalition, consisting of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People's National Congress (PNC), has claimed that senior government officials are attempting to influence Yameen's trial. However, Chief of Staff at the President's Office Ali Zahir said those criticising the judicial system and the judges are attempting to influence Yameen's trial in their favour.