Adhurey threatens to imprison the judges who ruled against Yameen

People’s National Congress (PNC) leader, Abdul Raheem Abdulla (Adhurey) has threatened to imprison the five judges on the bench which ruled against former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom this Thursday.

The Criminal Court issued its verdict in the money laundering case against the former president this Thursday afternoon.

The bench which oversaw the trial is composed of; Acting Chief Judge of Criminal Court Ali Rasheed, Judge Ahmed Shakeel, Judge Mohamed Sameer, Judge Ali Adam and Judge Hussain Faiz Rashad.

They found him guilty of money laundering and sentenced him to five years in prison in addition to imposing a fine of USD 5 million.

The verdict had been unanimous.

The verdict was met with protests by the crowd of the former president’s supporters gathered outside the courthouse.

Addressing the crowd, Abdul Raheem said that the opposition would not cease in its protests until Yameen regained his freedom.

“What I want to say to the five b***** on the bench of judges is that you will be imprisoned once we are in power,” said Abdul Raheem, who had previously served as parliamentary representative for Fonadhoo constituency.

He warned that the law would eventually catch up to the five judges as well as the senior officials of the current administration, and that they would be placed under immediate investigation once the opposition regained its power.

“We will not hesitate to make any sacrifice necessary for President Yameen,” said Abdul Raheem.

Yameen’s money laundering trial was originally presided over by the Criminal Court’s Chief Judge Ahmed Hailam, and the sentencing hearing had been originally scheduled for November 5. However, Hailam was placed under suspension mere hours ahead of the sentencing hearing, leading to the cancellation of the hearing.

The case was later conducted as a bench trial.

Yameen was charged with money laundering based on an USD 1 million transfer from SOF Private Limited – the company accused of laundering money embezzled from MMPRC - to one of his personal bank accounts.

The State alleged the USD 1 million had been the acquisition cost due to MMPRC for the lease of G. A. Vodamula. He was accused of laundering the money and attempting to hide its origins.