Yameen appeals to not forget him, hours ahead of money-laundering ruling

Former President Abdulla Yameen has appealed to the public not to forget about him, hours ahead of the verdict hearing in his money laundering trial.

While the hearing is set for Thursday afternoon, the former president made the appeal at an opposition protest held on Wednesday night.

Yameen seemed discouraged as he told the protesters that Thursday’s verdict will cause grief to his family and supporters.

The former president said that he may be forced to be away from his supporters, and asked to pay heed to the opposition’s activities and to “take part and cooperate” in these activities during this period.

The former president also strongly criticized the current administration at the protest, accusing it of working to jail him “somehow”. He further claimed that this is being done to diminish the opposition’s voice, including their work to protect Islam and defend religious scholars.

He said that he will be acquitted is his trial is “free and fair”.

However, Yameen claimed that the amendments being brought to the judiciary serves the sole purpose of threatening the country’s judges.

The former president also reiterated his dissatisfaction with the current judges’ bench presiding over his trial, saying that neither he nor his legal team accepts the bench.

The defence team had at the last hearing requested the chief judge in the case, and the Criminal Court’s current interim chief, Ali Rasheed to recuse himself from the trial after claiming that he had violated the Judges Act by giving an interview to a local news channel.

Yameen said that he has to prove his innocence to his real and political families, before doing so to a judges' bench, adding that he has done so.

The former president's team asked the Criminal Court halt the verdict hearing on Thursday, noting that a case against the bench has been submitted to the Supreme Court; they noted that the bench was formed unlawfully.