Former President Abdulla Yameen is facing new money laundering accusations in connection with the alleged wrongdoing in the lease of Aarah, Vaavu Atoll.
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the case, which includes bribery accusations as well as money laundering, was brought to the Criminal Court today.
The Maldives Police Service investigated the former president’s alleged malfeasance in leasing Aarah for resort development.
According to investigators, the USD 1 million (MVR 15.3 million) received by leasing Aarah to a foreign company for resort development was placed into Yameen’s personal account.
Yameen, who served a five-year term as president, was already convicted of another money laundering charge in 2019 by the Criminal Court in the leasing of Vodamula, Gaaf Alif Atoll, for resort development.
The former president’s Supreme Court appeal against his five-year prison sentence and USD 5 million fine is still pending.
Yameen is also charged of bribery and money laundering in connection with the leasing of Fuhgiri Island for resort development when he was in office; the case in the Criminal Court is currently underway.
