Former President Abdulla Yameen and the prosecution will present new evidence in the Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation
(MMPRC) case of bribery and money laundering, the court said today.
Yameen, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison last week for accepting bribes and money laundering in the Vaavu atoll Aarah case, is also being charged with laundering USD 1.1 million received in bribes for the lease of Raa atoll Fuggiri.
Yameen, Sun Construction Company and Sun Investment are also charged with money laundering. Ma. Kurikeela Hiyaa Ahmed "Krik" Riza is charged with being an intermediary in taking bribes.
The Fuggiri case was put on pause since the Criminal Court started hearing the Aarah case. Today's hearing marks the first session held since Criminal Court Chief Justice Ahmed Shakeel withdrew from the case.
The case had been in pre-trial motions when judge Ali Nadheem took over the case. He clarified today the proceedings of the case from all the relevant parties and checked whether they had received the letter of judge change.
When asked whether they were notified of the change, all the defendants said they had not received it. The court will provide the document, Judge Nadeem said.
The prosecution said it had sent a letter to the court requesting submission of additional evidence. The prosecution said the information was revealed in the Pandora Papers in connection with the Fuggiri transaction.
Meanwhile, Yameen's lawyer Abdulla Shiaz asked the court to file a preliminary motion, and to give him the opportunity to present new evidence in court today.
Judge Nadheem said he would decide whether the new evidence should be considered and accepted upon presentation. The next hearing will be held to allow submissions regarding new evidence and documents.
Judge asked to recuse
At today's hearing, Riza's lawyer, Husnee Mubarak, asked Judge Nadeem to withdraw from the case, stating that the judge had previously represented former Vice President Ahmed Adeeb as his lawyer, who is scheduled to testify in the case. He also mentioned that Riza's lawyer Ahmed Yameen, who previously represented him in the Fuggiri case, had worked as a lawyer for former MMPRC MD Abdulla Ziyath.
When asked to elaborate on the conflict of interest, Husnee said Judge Nadheem had acted as Adeeb's lawyer in connection with the allegations against him since his removal from the post of Vice President. He said this is a case in which Adeeb will testify under a confession agreement with the prosecution.
Supporting Husnee's remarks, Yameen's lawyer said Adeeb holds a personal vendetta against Yameen. He also pointed out that the case that Judge Nadheem had assisted Adeeb with was the "Finifenmaa" speed launch case which was related to Yameen.
However, the prosecution noted that Ahmed Yameen, who was Riza's lawyer, had to recuse because he worked as Ziyath's lawyer in the MMPRC case.
Judge Nadheem said he worked as Adeeb's lawyer in connection with his arrest seven years ago. He has not attended an investigation into an alleged offense or provided legal services in connection to an alleged offence, he said.
However, he said he would consider the request for recuse further and make a decision.
A date for the next hearing in the case was not announced today. Judge Nadheem said he would schedule the case and make an announce for it later.