Ex-President Yameen requests halting hearings in Aarah case until they can be livestreamed

Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom has requested to halt hearings in the money laundering case against him in connection to the sale of V. Aarah for resort development – until arrangements are made for hearings to be livestreamed.

Yameen was charged with money laundering and taking a bribe in connection to the case in November 2021. 

He is accused of misusing his position and taking a USD 1 million bribe as well as laundering the money in the sale of Aarah to Yoosuf Naeem, a former parliamentary representative for Felidhoo constituency. 

Meanwhile, Naeem is charged with giving a bribe in the same case. 

At a hearing of the case held at the Criminal Court today, Yameen had requested to halt the hearings in his case until arrangements are made for them to be livestreamed.

Criminal Court’s Chief Judge Ahmed Shakeel, who presides over the case, did not give a response to Yameen’s request.

Subsequently, Yameen’s lawyers had pointed out that the request to livestream hearings had been made on two separate occasions prior to this – after which Judge Shakeel had responded.

In this regard, he also noted that the defense had requested to livestream the hearings previously – to which a written response has been given by the Court. In reference to the letter, Judge Shakeel said that the Court has no objects regarding livestreaming the hearings, but, they lacked the resources for the work at the moment.

Yameen’s lawyers had persisted on the matter, following which Judge Shakeel said that he will look into it again.

At today’s hearing, the second defendant in the case, Naeem had pled not guilty to the charge raised against him. He also requested a period of 30 days to present evidence for his defense.

Yameen’s side had also requested additional time to present evidence for his defense – citing that more time is required to go through the documents of the case, as there are too many.

The prosecution had been ready to present evidence today – however, Judge Shakeel said that an additional hearing will be scheduled for presenting evidence which is set to take place on March 6.

Although Yameen had requested to livestream the hearings, Naeem had objected to livestreaming the hearings previously.

Yameen had been convicted of similar charges back in 2019. However, he was issued an acquittal by the Supreme Court last November – just short of two years into his five-year prison term. 

Hearings in the first money laundering trial against Yameen had been aired by television channels. The hearings were aired with assistance from Public Service Media (PSM) at the request of the Criminal Court. It was the first hearing livestreamed on television in the Maldives.