Yameen’s Legal Team Lodges Case to Supreme Court in Bid to Contest in Election

Photo: The president’s Office
Former President Abdullah Yameen, who was handed an 11-year jail term for charges related to money laundering and bribery, has taken legal action by filing a petition in the Supreme Court with the aim of safeguarding his electioneering rights.
Adam Shameem, one of Yameen’s legal representatives, raised concerns over the delayed appeal process in the High Court, stating that it has resulted in the violation of Yameen’s fundamental rights, including his electoral rights.
Shameem explained, “to address this matter, I have recently submitted a constitutional case to the Supreme Court on behalf of President Yameen, seeking to ensure the protection of these rights.”
ކުރީގެ ރައީސް، ރައީސް ޢަބްދުﷲ ޔާމީން ޢަބްދުލްޤައްޔޫމަކީ ރާއްޖޭގެ އެންމެ ބޮޑު އިދިކޮޅު ސިޔާސީ ޕާޓީ ކަމަށްވާ @ProgressPartyMV ގެ ރިޔާސީ ކެންޑިޑޭޓް ކަމުގައިވީހިނދު، ރައީސް ޔާމީންގެ ފަރާތުން ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ހައިކޯޓަށް ހުށަހަޅާފައިވާ އިސްތިޢުނާފީ މައްސަލަތައް ނުނިމި…— 𝗔𝗗𝗔𝗠 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗘𝗠 (@AdamShameem) July 22, 2023
The window for nominating candidates for the upcoming presidential election was opened yesterday and will remain open until the next month.
However, Yameen’s chances of participating in the election have been hindered due to his current incarceration, which has led to the closure of his legal opportunity to contest.
As per the Constitutional requirements, a potential candidate must have a clean record without any criminal convictions resulting in a prison sentence of more than 12 months within the last three years.
While the appeal against Yameen’s 11-year jail sentence on bribery and money laundering charges is still pending in the High Court, time is running out for him to gain eligibility for the election.
Allegations from the opposition have surfaced, claiming that the government has influenced High Court judges to take leave intentionally, thereby causing delays in the appeal process, allegedly with the aim of preventing Yameen from participating in the election.