Ex-President Yameen applies for bail

Former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s legal representatives have filed for his bail with the High Court.

The move was announced by Yameen’s lead counsel, former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed in a short statement via his Twitter account this Wednesday.

“Bail application has been filed at the High Court on behalf of President Yameen. As Maldivian courts have upheld such fundamental rights afforded to citizens in modern jurisdictions, I’m confident that bail will be granted to President Yameen as well,” said Jameel.

The announcement comes on the same day the High Court approved the appeal petition filed over Yameen’s sentence.

Yameen was found guilty of laundering USD 1 million in acquisition cost due to MMPRC for the lease of G. A. Vodamula, and sentenced to five years in prison and fined USD 5 million by the Criminal Court on November 28.

Yameen had maintained his innocence throughout the trial. He denied involvement in any criminal activity and insisted that the money had been campaign proceedings collected and managed by former Vice President and Tourism Minister Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor.