State Files Civil Lawsuit to Recover Yameen’s Unpaid Fines
Photo: The President’s Office
The government has taken legal action by filing a civil suit aimed at recovering the financial penalty levied against former President Abdullah Yameen.
ކްރިމިނަލް ކޯޓުގެ ނަންބަރު 698/ސީއާރްސީ/2021 ޤަޟިއްޔާއިން މއ.ކާމިނީހުޅަނގުގެ، ޢަބްދުﷲ ޔާމީން ޢަބްދުލްޤައްޔޫމްގެ މައްޗަށް ކުރެވުނު ޙުކުމުގެ ދަށުން ދައްކަންޖެހޭ 5،000،000 (ފަސްމިލިއަން) ޔޫއެސް ޑޮލަރު ޙުކުމުގައި ބުނާ މުއްދަތުގައި ޢަބްދުﷲ ޔާމީން ޢަބްދުލްޤައްޔޫމް ދައްކާފައިނުވެއެވެ.
— AG Office Maldives (@AGOmv) August 6, 2023advertisement
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Yameen had been found guilty of charges related to money laundering and accepting bribes, resulting in an 11-year prison sentence and an accompanying fine of USD 5 million. The sentencing was delivered on December 25 last year, with the payment deadline expiring in June this year.
However, Yameen has not met the payment requirement within the stipulated timeframe, citing the alleged lack of a request from the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) for the payment.
The Office of the Attorney General has stated that the case has been lodged in the Civil Court, citing Yameen’s failure to meet the financial obligation according to the judgement.
As per Article 363 of the Civil Procedure Code, the Civil Court holds the jurisdiction to enforce the civil aspects of judgements from the Criminal Court.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled that documentation exists indicating that the MIRA had instructed the payment of the fine. The presiding judge also referenced the document number and affirmed that the six-month period for the payment had lapsed.
Justice Suood, referring to an affidavit dated July 6, 2023, noted, “when the document was dispatched to the correctional facility where Yameen was held, he instructed the correctional officers to deliver it to his legal team. Yameen subsequently endorsed the document with his signature and fingerprints.”
