Ex-Maldivian leader Yameen summoned by police again in Aarah case

Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has been summoned to the police headquarters again this Monday, in connection to the money laundering case against him over the sale of V. Aarah for resort development.

Yameen’s lead lawyer, former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed said Yameen has been summoned to the police headquarters at 02:00 pm this Monday.

He said that the summons was sent in connection to the same case he was questioned in last Saturday.

The Aarah case is linked with the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) scandal.

Jameel, in an interview to the press after Yameen was summoned by police on Saturday, questioned why the opposition leader was being re-questioned in a case the police had already investigated.

“He was summoned to the police today in a case which was previously investigated. For re-questioning in the same case. That is, regarding V. Aarah. The case I mentioned was one for which President Yameen was already summoned, and which was investigated, signed and closed,” he said.

Jameel said that the police, in their decision to reopen the case and requestion Yameen, appeared to be creating charges to prosecute the former president.

Police concluded their investigation into USD 1 million deposit from the sale of Aarah to Yameen’s personal bank account, and requested the Prosecutor General’s Office for money laundering and bribery charges against him back in April.

Yameen is already serving a five-year prison sentence for money laundering, after he was convicted of laundering USD 1 million from the sale of GA. Vodamula on November 28, 2019.

He was also fined USD 5 million in the case.

Yameen was serving his sentence in Maafushi Prison, but was transferred to home confinement following an outbreak of COVID-19 at the  prison in April.