Ex-pres. issued warning for violating house arrest terms

Maldives Correction Service (MCS) has closed the case of incarcerated Former President Abdulla Yameen violating the conditions and terms of his house arrest by taking part in an opposition rally, after issuing a warning.

The ex-president took part in the opposition Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM)’s rally staged outside of his home on September 10 by waving the opposition flag from outside his window, following which Commissioner of Prisons, Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu revealed that the former president’s actions were in violation of the terms and conditions set for his house arrest and that action would be taken.

However, it has since been revealed that the case has been closed, after Yameen was issued a written warning by the correctional service. Corrections media official told RaajjeMV that the warning was issued to the ex-president, on Wednesday.

Yameen was transferred to house arrest on 29 April, after some officers at the Maafushi Prison complex were tested positive for Covid-19. He was among the high-risk convicts transferred to house arrest for their own safety. Yameen participated in the rally by gesturing to his supporters from an open window, waving the opposition and national flags as well as giving the protestors political messages of support.

Ahmed Mohamed Fulhu had earlier revealed that discussions were held on transferring the convicts who were moved to house arrest, back to Maafushi Prison after the Eid-Al-Adha holidays.

Not long after he was transferred to house arrest, reports surfaced that he had begun to access social media apps such as Telegram and WhatsApp. This stirred immense public criticism, especially after reports made the spotlight that Yameen was involved in political activities, while in house arrest.

At a time it was revealed that the discussions are underway, Maafushi Prison was brought under a state of emergency after a corrections officer contracted coronavirus. Following this, Yameen’s transfer back to prison was delayed indefinitely.

Yameen was sentenced to five years in prison on 28 November 2019, after being found guilty of laundering USD one million through state-owned MMPRC via a private company, Scores of Flair, during his presidential tenure. He was also given a fine totaling USD five million, along with the jail sentence, to be settled within six months.

He is currently being tried for fresh new charges in connection to the leasing of Fuggiri island in Raa atoll, for which the trial is ongoing, as well as the appeal trial on his money laundering sentence.