Yameen appeals the court order for his detention

Former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s attorneys have filed for appeal of the Criminal Court order for his detention pending the outcome of his money laundering trial with the High Court.

Yameen’s attorney, Abdulla Shiyaz reports the legal team lodged the appeal at the High Court this Tuesday afternoon.

The Criminal Court granted the State prosecution’s request to jail Yameen, during a pretrial hearing last Monday, after reviewing evidence he attempted witness tampering by offering bribes to State witnesses in the money laundering case.

Yameen was charged with money laundering and providing false testimony to State investigators following Maldives Police Service’s investigation into the USD 1 million - believed to be embezzled funds in the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) scam – deposited to his account at the Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB) by SOF Private Limited.

He is currently at the Special Protection Unit of Maafushi Prison, where he will remain detained pending the outcome of his trial.