Former President Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s lawyers have asked the Supreme Court to suspend the execution of his five-year sentence for money laundering and to release him on bail.
On November 28, 2019, Yameen was found guilty of laundering USD 1 million from the sale of GA. Vodamula by the Criminal Court. He swiftly filed an appeal with the High Court, which upheld the original sentence on January 21, 2021.
The country’s highest court agreed to hear the former president’s appeal against his five-year prison sentence and a USD 5 million fine, which he filed in April.
The Supreme Court had scheduled the first hearing for the appeal case for September 12, followed by a second hearing on September 13.
During today’s hearing at the Supreme Court, Justice Mahaz Ali Zahir stated that Yameen’s lawyers had filed two requests with the court: one for Yameen to be freed on bail and another for a stay of execution of the Criminal Court’s judgement against him.
Former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, Yameen’s main lawyer, stated that they got files from the State on Saturday and asked at least two days to study the materials and prepare their defense.
While the court decided to postpone a judgement on the applications for two days, it heard arguments of appeal from Yameen’s attorneys. The case is being considered by a three-member bench led by Justice Mahaz, as well as Justices Dr. Azmiralda Zahir and Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim.
