Verdict hearing in ex-president's money laundering trial set for 17 November

The verdict hearing in the money-laundering trial against former President Abdulla Yameen has been scheduled for 17 November.

The former president and his legal team were notified, the hearing will begin at 1:30pm on 17 November, a Sunday.

Initially scheduled for 5 November, the hearing was cancelled following presiding Judge, Ahmed Hailam’s suspension earlier that day after the Judicial Service Commission(JSC) began probing a disciplinary issue against him.

Following Hailam’s suspension, Judge Ali Rasheed has temporarily taken over the Criminal Court.

The verdict against Yameen will also be issued by Judge Rasheed. Reports do have it that the trial may begin all over again, as a new judge is set to preside over the case.

According to the Criminal Procedure Act, in any case a presiding judge is unable to take on a case, there are two options to continue with the trial; one is by assigning the case to another judge or beginning the trial afresh.

The suspended Criminal Court judge is accused of taking bribes from the defendant and Yameen’s legal team has since voiced concern over the delay, expressing their doubt that the trial will be fair as there is “no guarantee” that the new judge will not be influenced by JSC.

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).

If found guilty of the charges which he has denied in court, Yameen could face a jail sentence between five to 15 years.

Former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and MMPRC’s former Managing Director Abdulla Ziyath had testified against Yameen at court.