Abbas says to recuse in conflicting Yameen's cases

The Prosecutor General's Office (PG) will not participate in any case pending in the courts against former President Abdullah Yameen if there is a conflict of interest, Prosecutor General Abbas Shareef said on Tuesday.

Abbas said this while answering a question from a journalist at his first press conference since taking office. 

The question is whether Abbas will withdraw from any decision of the prosecutor's office in Yameen's cases, which are currently pending in the courts, as he has been part of the team of lawyers who represented Yameen in several court cases.

Abbas said he did not remember ever advocating in court as Yameen's lawyer. He said he had appeared in court on behalf of the PPM as a party lawyer.

He said he would look at his record of advocacy in the courts to make sure. Abbas said he would withdraw if there was any conflict in the case and would not participate in any decision taken by the prosecutor's office in cases related to Yameen.

"[As Yameen's lawyer], if I have been given the court, I will have to resign. In that case, I will resign. Then there is already a rule in place in this office," Abbas said. 

Abbas added:

"If there is a situation where I have to look at the record and recuse before participating in such a decision, I will do so," Abbas said.

Abbas said he had no intention of changing any decision taken by former Prosecutor Hussain Shameem, including Yameen's case. 

However, many complaints are being submitted to the Prosecutor General's Office regarding some cases and therefore an opportunity has been opened for 20 days to submit such complaints, he said.

"Therefore, if the case of President Yameen is submitted within this period, the committee will review the case and take decisions. 

The reason why I have not decided to review the case myself is that if I review a case," Abbas said.

"So I've opened this up to the public. I don't intend to review any cases on my own initiative."

Before taking over as the prosecutor general, Abbas was the legal secretary at the President's Office.

In response, Abbas said no one could influence him or intimidate him. One proof of that is that he was not under such influence when he worked in the High Court after working with former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, he said.