The Criminal Court of the Maldives has announced a ruling will be issued in November on the money laundering and bribery charges pressed against former President Abdulla Yameen in relation to the lease of Aarah, Vaavu Atoll for tourism development.
During the hearing held on January 27, Criminal Court Judge Ahmed Shakeel said the preliminary phase of the trial will be carried out until May, with witness statements and summary statements to be delivered between July and October. The judge revealed a ruling will be issued by November 25.
Regarding the request by former President Yameen to livestream the hearings, Judge Shakeel said the court currently does not have the resources to livestream the hearings. However, the judge said the hearings will be livestreamed as soon as the resources are acquired. He added the trial will still be opened for the public, even if it is not livestreamed.
Former President Yameen is accused of accepting USD 1 million as a bribe during the lease of Aarah through Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) and laundering the money. Another individual, named Yoosuf Naeem, has also been charged for bribery in the lease of Aarah.
Aarah, which is located near Thinadhoo in Vaavu Atoll, had been leased to a private company when it was taken back and handed over to the Island Council of Vaavu Atoll Felidhoo in 2015. The island was later handed over to a company called 2G Maldives, before leasing the island again to a foreign company. The embezzlement of funds acquired from the lease of Aarah was uncovered during the investigation of the corruption scandal of MMPRC.
Former President Yameen was recently freed from a 5-year prison sentence after the Supreme Court of the Maldives overturned the decision by the Criminal Court to convict Yameen of laundering USD 1 million received as the acquisition cost for the lease of Vodamula, Gaafu Alifu Atoll for resort development through MMPRC. However, he is also currently under trial for another case of money laundering and accepting USD 1.1 million in bribes for the lease of Fuhgiri, Raa Atoll, for resort development through MMPRC.