PNC president denies threatening judges

President of opposition People’s National Congress (PNC), Abdul Raheem Abdulla, has denied threatening Criminal Court judges, following opposition leader and former President Abdulla Yameen’s conviction on money laundering.

While speaking at the press conference held on Saturday by the coalition between Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People's National Congress (PNC), Abdul Raheem responded to a RaajjeMV reporter's question claiming that he respects the judicial system and will not criticize the court's verdicts.

Nevertheless, he declared that the guilty verdict against President Abdulla Yameen did not follow due process and was politically motivated.

Abdul Raheem went onto criticize the main ruling party, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), accusing Husnu Al Suood, the president of Presidential Commission on Murders and Enforced Disappearances (DDCom), as well as Deputy Speaker of the Parliament and MP for North Galolhu constituency, Eeva Abdulla and the MP for North Maafannu constituency, Imthiyaz Fahumy of disrespecting the judiciary and members of the court bench.

Abdul Raheem denied threatening judges despite speaking to opposition supporters at a press conference after Yameen’s sentencing, threatening to “jail” the five judges that gave out the ruling in the trial.

According to sources, a complaint against the former MP was filed by the Department of Judicial Administration (DJA).