Former Maldives president Yameen sentenced for five years
Male, Nov.28 (HS): Former Maldives president Abdulla Yameen was sentenced to five years in prison in a money laundering, today. Dozens of his supporters gathered outside the courtroom saying him as innocent.
Earlier, Yameen, who ran the Maldives with his dictat for five years, unexpectedly lost an election last year and has since faced investigations over a number of deals sealed during his tenure. He was accused of receiving $1 million of government money through a private company as part of a deal to lease a number of tropical islands for hotel development – charges he has repeatedly dismissed.
Judge Ali Rasheed, who headed a panel of five judges trying the case, told it had been established beyond any reasonable doubt that Yameen had taken money that he knew was embezzled from the state. “The judges took over 10 days to deliberate on this and this is the unanimous verdict of the five judges,” Rasheed said. Yameen drew the Indian Ocean island country closer to China during his tenure from 2013-2018. Opposition critics accused him of giving contracts, including a major bridge and an extension to the international airport, to Chinese companies at inflated prices. He denied any wrongdoing.
