Ex-President Yameen transferred to house arrest

Former President Abdulla Yameen, indicted on money laundering charges, has been transferred to house arrest on medical grounds.

The Maldives Correctional Services temporarily transferred Yameen as per a doctor’s recommendation in late February, which was approved by the court this week.

Yameen is to be detained at home with stipulations agreed to by himself and his wife, former first lady Fathimath Ibrahim.

The former president was indicted in February, declared a flight risk, and remanded until sentencing. Although he has been in hospital over reported cardiological complications.

A sum of at least one million dollars was deposited to Yameen’s account at a local bank, from Scores of Flair Private Limited, the company implicated in embezzlement of the state-run Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation.

The former president himself authorized funds from leasing islands and lagoons for tourism to be received by the company, which in turn funneled over USD 79 million to various private accounts.

Multiple allegations have been made over what is called the ‘largest corruption scandal in Maldivian history’ and politicians have attested that the funds were used to bribe senior government officials and parliamentarians.