Money laundering case: Azima's trial to begin on Thursday

The preliminary hearing in the money laundering case against former Legal Affairs Minister, Azima Shakoor, has been scheduled for Thursday.

She is charged with aiding and abetting in money laundering, and providing a false statement to authorities in the case.

While charges were raised against her in February, for allegedly assisting former President Abdulla Yameen, the Criminal Court was only able to hand over the case documents last Thursday; the court had been unable to serve her a summon notice until this month as she was out of the country.

As per the Criminal Procedure Act, case documentations must be handed over to a defendant prior to the commencement of a trial.

Azima claims that the charges were raised to silence her through “trumped up” charges, and denied taking any money “ever.”

Former President Yameen was charged with money laundering in February as well, and the preliminary hearing in the case was held in April. While the Court had ordered to keep him in remand until the trial concludes, he was released by the High Court during the appeal process.