Jameel leaves Jumhooree Party to focus on ex-president's release

Former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed has left Jumhooree Party (JP).

While he left the JP on Sunday, the former VP told RaajjeMV that the party has been an obstacle to his political work.

However, he did not elaborate any further on the matter.

Dr. Jameel, a lawyer, further said that he intends to “do more legal work” after leaving JP. While he is currently in jailed former President Abdulla Yameen’s legal team, Jameel said that quitting the party will give him more time to focus on the case.

The ex-VP is to give “special priority” to the free Yameen.

Jameel was Yameen’s running mate in the 2013 presidential elections, but was removed through a no-confidence vote in parliament in 2015, widely believed to have been orchestrated to allow Ahmed Adheeb to become his successor – who was later impeached as well, and tried on terror charges.

He had traveled to the United Kingdom prior to the no-confidence vote, and had returned only after the 2018 presidential elections where Yameen lost his bid for re-election.

Jameel joined the opposition reform movement while under exile, and was one of the biggest critics of the Yameen administration.

Yameen was convicted of laundering charges last November. He was accused of receiving USD one million, the acquisition cost for the lease of an island, of government money through a private company.

His conviction has since been appealed, and while two hearings have since been held the court ruled against granting him bail.

The former president was sentenced to five years in prison, and a USD five million fine to be paid in six months.