Maldives ex-pres. given more time to prepare for trial on new charges

Thursday’s hearing in former President Abdulla Yameen’s money laundering case was halted without reading out the charges, after the defence noted various issued including that a laptop provided to them by the state was “bugged”.

Fresh charges were raised against the jailed former president in relation to the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption scandal earlier this year; on money laundering and bribery.

While the first preliminary hearing in the case was scheduled for August, the court has been unable to proceed with the trial due to various issues noted by the defence including state’s failure to arrange meetings between Yameen and his attorneys.

This was reiterated at Thursday’s hearing, with the defence noting that the Maldives Correctional Services (MCS) has not allowed them adequate time.

While the presiding judge had asked whether they had received all the documents related to the case, the defence noted that they have yet to receive the completed documentation. They also highlighted issues due to the requirement of electronic devices.

As such, noting that audio clips have been provided, Yameen’s legal team highlighted that they have not been given the opportunity to analyze the clips with their client.

Further, they claimed that the laptop provided by MCS was bugged and asked the court to be allowed to bring in their own devices to prison.

The state’s attorney noted that this is the first time these issues are being mentioned, and called the defence irresponsible for doing so during hearing. She said that the Prosecutor General’s Office could have helped to find a solution, had the issues been mentioned prior to hearing.

Presiding Judge Ahmed Shakeel said that arrangements can be made for the defence to listen to the audio clips at the Criminal Court. While the defendant also complained over not being in the same chamber as his attorneys during the hearing, Judge Shakeel announced that this can be arranged as well.

Yameen’s attorneys noted that they were not informed of the change to the arrangement adopted since the Covid-19 pandemic.

While a hearing in the case has been set for December 6, the presiding judge asked to ensure that all issues are solved by then.

The state is working to retrieve funds from the former president in connection to charges of money-laundering and corruption which were filed at the Criminal Court in connection to the leasing of Fuggiri in Raa atoll for resort development.

Yameen is accused of using undue influence of his position to accept and launder USD 1,117,000 from the state. The Prosecutor General’s Office earlier revealed that the money was laundered through Sun Construction and Engineering Private Limited and Sun Investment Private Limited.

Yameen could face a sentence four to eight years, if proven guilty of the corruption charges and stands a jail term between five to 15 years and a fine ranging between MVR 100,000 and a MVR million if the money-laundering charges are proven.

The highest amount estimated to be imposed as fines is USD 5,585,000. This is five times the amount that was laundered, USD 1,117,000.

The Fuggiri corruption case was investigated through the joint efforts of the police, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the presidential inquiry commission on asset recovery.

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 and fined USD five million to be paid within in six months.