Criminal Court to commence hearings on Aarah case next month
The Criminal Court is preparing to commence the retrial of former President Abdulla Yameen and businessman Yoosuf Naeem next month, following the Supreme Court's ruling to reject new evidence submitted by the state in the V. Aarash case. After the Supreme Court upheld the High Court's decision to order a retrial, the lower court proceedings will now move forward by granting both parties a fresh opportunity to present their pre-trial motions.
Regarding the corruption trial involving the lease of V. Aarah. | RaajjeMV
The Criminal Court is preparing to commence hearings in the V. Aarah case, following a Supreme Court ruling that upheld the High Court’s decision to exclude certain evidence presented in the appeal.
The proceedings at the Criminal Court have been stayed pending a final decision by the Supreme Court. The case is currently being retried at the lower court following a High Court ruling that overturned the 11-year prison sentence issued against former President Abdulla Yameen in 2022.
The High Court's ruling on the Aarah corruption case outlines three primary directives. These include granting a fresh opportunity to deliberate and rule on pretrial motions, excluding new evidence presented by the state, and setting aside the interpretation contained in point 68 of the lower court's report for a retrial at the Criminal Court.
Among these issues, the state appealed to the Supreme Court regarding the order to exclude new evidence presented by the prosecution. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the High Court's decision to set aside that evidence was correct.
Consequently, the Criminal Court has now finalized preparations to commence the hearings for this case. According to information provided by the court, arrangements are being made to begin the proceedings next month.
While Yameen was previously sentenced to seven years in prison and fined $5 million on money laundering charges, he was also handed a four-year prison sentence after being found guilty of accepting bribes. However, the High Court overturned these convictions on April 18, 2024.
Yousuf Naeem was charged with bribery in connection with the Aarah corruption scandal. Following a conviction on these charges, the Criminal Court sentenced him to 3 years, 2 months, and 12 days in prison on December 25, 2022. However, upon appeal, the High Court overturned the conviction on April 18, 2024, and ordered a retrial of the case.
Upon review of the case, the new evidence subsequently submitted by the state will not be admitted.
