PGO Undecided on Yameen Appeal Following High Court Ruling

The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) announced today that they are yet to reach a decision regarding a potential appeal against the High Court’s ruling to overturn the prison sentences imposed on former President Abdulla Yameen.

Former President Yameen was detained and handed a four-year prison term for bribery charges alongside a seven-year sentence for money laundering, both stemming from his involvement in leasing V. Aarah for tourism development via the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). These convictions were issued by the Criminal Court in 2022.

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In a development last week, a panel of judges at the High Court nullified the prior judgments against Yameen, remanding the case back to the Criminal Court for retrial.

An official from the PGO confirmed that as of today, no conclusive determination has been made regarding the potential submission of an appeal to the Supreme Court. There is a stipulated 60-day window within which such appeals must be lodged with the Supreme Court.

Former Member of Parliament for Felidhoo constituency, Yoosuf Naeem, who was also implicated in the V. Aarah corruption case, received a three-year prison sentence. However, similar to Yameen’s situation, his sentence was overturned during the appellate process at the High Court, and his case has been slated for retrial.