Opposition calls to expedite ex-president's transfer to house arrest

An appeal calling to transfer former President Abdulla Yameen to house arrest has been made to the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM), given his health condition.

The appeal made by the opposition coalition, comprising of Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC), noted that Yameen has been “falsely” incarcerated for over five months. Noting that the sentencing has been appealed at the High Court, the opposition stressed that hearings have been halted “for months”.

The statement noted that political leaders have in the past been moved to house arrest during Ramadan, as well as of pardons being made amid crises similar to the current one that the country is facing.

The opposition added that it remains committed working with the government amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, but expressed disappointment that the government has no plans to transfer the former president home.

The statement noted that a transfer request was made prior to the start of Ramadan. It added that the fact that the request has not been approved two days since the Holy month started shows this government’s “lack of care for humanity and unity”.

Hence, it appealed to the human rights commission to look into the matter and expedite the former president’s transfer to house arrest.

While the statement highlighted Yameen’s “health condition”, it did not disclose any details on the subject.

Yameen was convicted on money-laundering charges on 28th November 2019, after being found guilty of 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.