MCS denies accusations of obstructing jailed ex-president's constitutional right

Maldives Correctional Services (MCS) has denied claims by incarcerated former President Abdulla Yameen’s legal team, accusing the institution of violating his constitutional right to legal counsel.

Yameen’s team issued a statement accusing MCS of obstructing the former president’s right. They claimed MCS had informed them that a direct meeting will not be allowed, despite the High Court giving such instructions at a hearing held on July 8.

MCS released a statement responding to the allegations, on Tuesday night.

Denying the allegations, the statement noted that the former president’s attorneys have been “clearly” informed that a meeting requested through a letter on July 14 will be authorized.

It added that requests for lawyers to meet with inmates can be submitted an online, due to the ongoing pandemic.

Further noting that the team had filed a request at the Malé Prison, MCS said that officials there had instructed them on how to proceed.

Highlighting this, MCS expressed concern over the former president’s team’s efforts to spread misinformation.

Yameen was convicted on money-laundering charges on November 28th last year, for laundering USD one million 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.

While the former president’s team appealed his conviction and subsequent sentencing on November 30, it is currently at the final stage.

Yameen was also fined USD five million to be paid within in six months. While he has failed to pay the fine, work is underway to seek the sum through the Criminal Court.

The opposition has been staging protests in the capital this week, calling for Yameen's release as well as the resignation of incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Speaker Mohamed Nasheed.