Declined to testify in Yameen's defence over lack of info, Nareesh says
Nareesh had previously testified in Yameen’s defence in an earlier case related to the lease transaction of V. Aarah.
Ahmed Nareesh, Advisor to the Minister of Youth, has declined to testify in defence of former President Abdulla Yameen in the ongoing Criminal Court trial concerning the R. Fuggiri lease transaction, saying he was not aware of the transaction.
Nareesh was among the witnesses submitted by Yameen’s legal team. However, he formally notified the court of his objection to testifying. Yameen did not request the court to compel Nareesh’s appearance through arrest.
In response to a comment made by an activist from the People’s National Front (PNF) – the party formed by Yameen following his split from the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the People’s National Congress (PNC) – Nareesh stated that he had no knowledge of the matter in question.
“On reflection, I realised it was inappropriate to agree to testify in a case about which I had no information,” Nareesh stated.
Fuel Supplies Maldives (FSM) Deputy Managing Director Shuaullah Saeed, also named as a defence witness in the case, similarly declined to testify.
Both Nareesh and Shuaullah previously had affiliations with Yameen but have not publicly supported him since his departure from the ruling coalition. Tensions between Yameen and senior government figures have increased in recent months, with critical remarks exchanged on both sides.
Nareesh had previously testified in Yameen’s defence in an earlier case related to the lease transaction of V. Aarah. The then Chief Justice of the Criminal Court, Ahmed Shakeel, ruled that Nareesh gave false testimony during those proceedings. Following the ruling, police initiated an investigation into the alleged false statement.
