Additional hearing scheduled for Thursday for state to respond to appeal points in Yameen's sentence appeal trial
He expressed concerns over his back issues and noted that it was difficult to be seated for even two hours
Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom
An additional hearing for state attorneys to respond to appeal points proposed by the defendant in incarcerated Former President Abdulla Yameen’s sentence appeal trial, has been scheduled for Thursday.
The fifth hearing in the appeal trial concluded on Monday.
Monday’s hearing saw the defendant presenting appeal points, a total of 22 points were presented by the defendant.
The first seven of the total appeal points were detailed during the first hearing, on September 12, during which the ex-president requested the Supreme Court to grant his release on bail, and to delay the execution of his money laundering sentence. Another hearing was scheduled for September 13, where four appeal points were heard. This was dragged on to another hearing held on Thursday. Monday saw all of the remaining appeal points heard.
The next hearing is scheduled for Thursday, 9am.
Monday’s hearing was held from 9am to 12pm and revolved around Yameen’s medical documents, submitted after he expressed concern over the duration of his hearings, citing back problems.
Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir revealed that after state attorneys respond to the appeal points, deliberations will commence regarding the former president’s bail request and sentence appeal.
The justices presiding over the case are Mahaz Ali Zahir, Azmiralda Zahir and Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim.
The corruption trial against Yameen over the lease of R. Fuhgiri for resort development, is also ongoing. Further, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the Presidential Inquiry Commission on Asset Recovery as well as the Maldives Police Service are currently conducting probes against the ex-president, regarding the MMPRC grand corruption case.
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.
