Criminal Court to Begin Retrial of Yameen This Week

The Criminal Court will begin a retrial this week, mandated by the High Court four months ago, which overturned a 2022 conviction against former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom for money laundering and bribery.

Yameen was originally sentenced to 11 years in prison on 25 December 2022, following charges related to bribery and money laundering linked to the sale of V. Aarah. However, on 18 April, the High Court overturned this conviction, citing significant legal irregularities. Instead of a full exoneration, the court nullified the two convictions and ordered a retrial.

advertisement

advertisement

advertisement

advertisement

A spokesperson for the Criminal Court has confirmed that a hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.

Yameen’s acquittal in the Aarah case represents the second time a conviction against him has been overturned. In 2021, the Supreme Court had annulled a five-year sentence for money laundering related to the sale of GA. Vodamulla, another island leased for resort development during his presidency.

The conviction in the Aarah case had previously barred Yameen from running in the 2023 presidential elections. Initially, he urged the then-opposition PPM-PNC coalition to boycott the election but later supported President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who was elected through a joint senate vote of the coalition.

Yameen was released and transferred home on 1 October 2023, the day after President Muizzu’s election victory.