Summary hearing in ex-president's money laundering trial preponed

The Criminal Court has preponed the hearing for summary statements in former President Abdulla Yameen’s money laundering trial to 9 October.

Although the court summary hearing was initially scheduled for 10 October following the conclusion of the testimony hearings in the trial on 25 September, Yameen’s lawyers have revealed that they were notified of the preponement to 9 October, a Wednesday.

The trial is set to proceed at 1pm after which a verdict hearing will be scheduled and another hearing will be scheduled to decide a sentence once Yameen is found guilty of the charges against him.

The former is accused of laundering USD one million through state-run Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) via a private company, Scores of Flair (SoF), during his five-year term which ended last November.

Further accusations against him include using funds for financial gain despite being ordered to transfer it to an escrow account under an agreement with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Yameen could face a jail sentence between five to 15 years if he is found guilty to the charges he has denied in court.