Opposition renews calls to release ex-pres. Yaameen from prison, reason cited as Covid-19

Members of the opposition PPM-PNC coalition have called to release jailed former president Abdulla Yaameen Abdulla Gayyoom from prison, after reports of the Covid-19 infection spreading inside the Maafushi prison complex.

In a press statement released on Saturday, the opposition coalition of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People's National Congress (PNC) expressed concerns over reports that some working at the Maafushi prison complex had contracted Covid-19.

The PPM-PNC coalition called for all authorities responsible to be transparent and share information with them over the issue, and alleged that one of those ho had tested positive for the infection had been responsible for overseeing Yaameen in prison.

The opposition coalition went on to assert that it was the state's responsibility to preserve the health and safety of Yaameen, who is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for charges of money laundering. The opposition claimed that the only way to safeguard Yaameen's health would be to have him transferred to house arrest immediately.

While this has been the opposition's most recent stance in calling to release Yaameen, the former president had recently received the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to immunize against the infection, which has been spreading steadily across the Maldives capital. Raajje MV has learned that Yaameen received the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine from ADK Hospital.

Former President Yaameen is presently serving a five-year prison sentence in relation to the MMPRC Corruption scandal; he was convicted of money laundering after having embezzled and transferred to his personal account, USD one million from the acquisition cost reserved for the state in the leasing and development of GA. Vodumulaa as a resort.

Yaameen is also facing charges of money laundering and accepting bribes while in office for having transferred into his own account USD 1.1 million from the acquisition cost of R. Fuhgiri under the MMPRC grand corruption case. The hearings for these trials are ongoing at the Criminal Court.