The Criminal Court has ordered former President Abdulla Yameen to be kept in detention for the remainder of his trial.

Yameen was summoned to court on Monday afternoon, over money laundering charges raised against him in relation to the Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation (MMPRC) embezzlement case.

The Prosecutor General (PG) raised money laundering charges last week, after the police completed its investigation and forwarded the case on February 6. Case documents were handed over to him on Sunday.

Monday's hearing was held after the PG asked the Criminal Court to remand the former president until his trial concludes. The Court's chief judge Ahmed Hailam ordered to keep him in remand, under Artciles 49 and 60 of the Constitution and Penal Code respectively. 

At the hearing, the state prosecutor Aishath Mohamed said that Yameen had attempted to bribe witnesses in order to make them change their testimonies to authorities.

Noting that this is highlighted in the documents provided to court, Aishath said the former president could attempt to influence witnesses if he remains free.

He is to be kept in Dhoonidhoo Detention Center.

The charges carry a sentence of 15 years, and a fine amounting to three times the sum involved.

The police service is also seeking to charge him with giving false testimony to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) during its investigation.

ACC’s report revealed that Scores of Flair (SoF), the company used to launder money embezzled from MMPRC, had deposited one million US dollars to Yameen.

The PG has also filed charges against Azima Shakoor, the fomer legal affairs minister, for giving false information to investigative authorities and aiding Yameen with money-laundering.