Court to hear summary statements in ex-president's money laundering trial, next month

The Criminal Court will hear summary statements from both the prosecution and defence, in former President Abdulla Yameen’s money laundering trial, next month.

The court concluded the testimony hearings in the trial on Wednesday, and the summary hearing is scheduled for October 10.

Yameen is accused of laundering USD one million through the state-owned Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), via a private company SoF, during his presidency. He is also accused of using the funds for financial gain, despite being ordered to transfer it to an escrow account under an agreement with the anti-corruption watchdog.

The state had submitted eight names as witnesses; former ACC presidents Hassan Luthufee and Muavviz Rasheed, former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb, former Minister of Tourism Moosa Zameer, former heard of MMPRC Abdulla Ziyath, Mohamed Luaviz, Mohamed Waseem Ismail, and Mohamed Shareef. While Luthufee refused to testify in court claiming threats to his life, Judge Ahmed Hailam on Wednesday decided to accept a video recording of his statement from the investigation.

As documentary evidence the state submitted ACC’s report, MMPRC audit report, Yameen’s statement to ACC, transaction cheques and slips, as well as bank statements and the former president’s financial records.

The defence submitted only one name as a witness; former governor at the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA) Azeema Adam. She has recused herself from testifying, and the court has decided to halt work to present her to court and obtain a testimony.

As documentary evidence, the defence had submitted a press release from MMA -which was shown in Al Jazeera’s investigative documentary ‘Stealing Paradise’- and a Civil Court order on SoF regarding its transactions with MMPRC.

While the former president could face a jail sentence between five to 15 years if found guilty, he denies the charges against him.