Defence witnesses testify to cash exchange in Yameen’s graft trial
Yameen faces charges of bribery and money laundering.
Defence witnesses in the ongoing corruption trial of former President Abdulla Yameen on Monday testified that he handed over a sum of money in exchange for US dollars. The case, being heard at the Criminal Court, concerns the leasing of R. Fuggiri island under the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) scheme.
Yameen faces charges of bribery and money laundering. Sun Construction and Sun Investment are also facing money laundering charges related to the same lease transaction.
The defence argues that the transaction between Yameen and the Sun companies was unrelated to the Fuggiri island lease. According to the defence, Yameen was engaged in a currency exchange deal, and supporting evidence has been submitted to the court.
Two defence witnesses testified at the hearing held Monday:
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Abdulla Rasheed, former Head of External Affairs and a close associate of Yameen, and
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Ahmed Krik Riza, a former defendant in the case whose charges were previously withdrawn by the prosecution.
Riza was the first to testify but had issues with the court microphone, making his statements difficult to hear. Subsequently, Abdulla Rasheed gave his testimony.
Rasheed told the court that MVR 17 million in cash was withdrawn from Yameen’s then Hilaalee residence at Yameen’s instruction. The cash was later handed over to the driver of Ahmed Siyam Mohamed, the owner of the Sun companies.
According to Rasheed:
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The cash was arranged in 344 bundles of MVR 50,000 each on a table in the living room.
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The money was packed into a large piece of luggage as instructed by Yameen.
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There was still space left in the luggage after the money was packed.
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The money was handed over when Siyam’s driver arrived.
With this hearing, the evidentiary phase of the trial has concluded. The court will now proceed to hear statements summarising the evidence before delivering a verdict.
Yameen’s defence in this case echoes arguments made in earlier cases, where it was claimed that he deposited dollars into his account after paying cash for currency exchange.
Abdulla Rasheed also previously testified in favour of Yameen in earlier proceedings.
Former Deputy Mayor Ahmed Nareesh was submitted as a potential witness in this trial. However, he declined to testify, and Yameen chose not to compel his appearance. Nareesh had earlier been found to have given false testimony in a separate case related to the same lease transaction. That ruling was later overturned by the High Court, although the police had already initiated a perjury investigation.
