Abdulla Yameen, who lost power in 2018, will remain the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 election, despite the corruption conviction, according to his party.
Former Maldives president
Abdulla Yameen will appeal as soon as possible against his conviction and jailing for 11 years on corruption and money
laundering charges, according to his lawyer.
A day after the verdict and sentencing, the court has now issued the trial and case reports to Yameen’s legal team, an official said on Monday afternoon.
Former Maldives vice president Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, who is leading Yameen’s legal team, said they will appeal against the criminal court’s verdict without delay.
Yameen, the opposition Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)
candidate for the next election due in 2023, was sent to
prison on Maafushi island on Sunday to start his sentence
following the order from the Maldives criminal court.
Yameen, 63, has denied any wrongdoing lodged against him, and will serve his
time in a special compound in the prison which has been
previously used to jail other high profile politicians.
READ MORE:
Maldives’ ex-president Yameen freed after conviction overturned
‘Political witch-hunt’
Jameel had said earlier that the defence was not provided
the full written judgement against the country’s former leader.
“It’s quite absurd that the court has issued a verdict of
guilty without producing its judgment or case report,” Jameel
said.
“Our concern is that serious breach of fairness has already
taken place due to delay of judgment copy as defence is
paralysed from filing appeal which is a fundamental right under
Article 56 of our constitution.”
The PPM protested against Yameen’s conviction on Sunday,
with police arresting 16 people before releasing them later, the
party said. PPM officials told local media that the party will
continue its protests.
“We reiterate our belief that this trial and verdict is a
political witch-hunt against our presidential candidate…and
call for his immediate and unconditional release,” the PPM said
in a statement.
Yameen, who lost power in 2018, will remain the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 election, it said.
READ MORE: Maldives court finds former President Yameen guilty of corruption
Source: Reuters
Maldives ex-leader Yameen vows appeal after 11-year jail sentence
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