The appeal case of former President Abdulla Yameen is set to commence later this month.

High Court has scheduled the first hearing in the case for January 28, and a lawyer from the former president’s legal team has confirmed this to RaajjeMV.

Yameen was convicted on money-laundering charges on November 28th, for laundering USD through the state-owned Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) via a private company SoF, during his presidency. He was sentenced to five years in prison and fined USD five million to be paid within in six months.

The Prosecutor General's (PG) Office has also requested the Criminal Court to seize the funds in former President Yameen Abdul Gayoom's bank account, as he was found guilty of depositing the USD one million laundered through the state a general investment account at Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB) and using it for his personal gain for 36 months.

RaajjeMV understands that the PGO is seeking an order to seize the over USD 3.4 million in his account.

While Yameen’s appeal case is to commence this month, he is also seeking bail.

While Yameen and his team have expressed concern over the delay in bail arrangements, it is likely that the court will reach a decision on the matter during the appeal process.

Some legal experts have expressed concern that the country does not have proper regulations to do so as the High Court is not able to take such actions following the introduction of the current Criminal Procedure Code.