Yameen alleges judicial corruption, opposes capital punishment
Although he supported the implementation of the death penalty during his presidency, Yameen said his experiences had led him to change his position.
Former President Abdulla Yameen has said he no longer supports the implementation of capital punishment in the Maldives, citing what he described as corruption within the judiciary.
Speaking at the People's National Front (PNF) weekly rally on Thursday night, Yameen focused on his imprisonment, the death penalty and the state of the judiciary.
Yameen claimed his imprisonment was unjust and argued that his own case, along with several recent court cases, demonstrated that judicial decisions were not being made fairly.
Although he supported the implementation of the death penalty during his presidency, Yameen said his experiences had led him to change his position.
"Who passes death sentences? It is those exact judges who lack any sense of justice. I am someone who previously campaigned for the implementation of the death penalty. However, after witnessing the lack of integrity among our judges, I now stand against capital punishment," he said.
Yameen added that the PNF would not include a pledge to implement the death penalty in its manifesto for the next presidential election.
He also called for an investigation into his conviction in connection with the lease of G.A. Vodamulaa under the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) corruption case.
Yameen alleged that both the Maldives Police Service and the Prosecutor General's Office knew that the cheque numbers used to pay for the island lease did not match those deposited into his personal account, but proceeded with the prosecution regardless.
He further claimed that his lawyer, Adam Shameem, raised the issue during the trial but that the presiding judge did not consider the argument.
Yameen also alleged that the case was pursued to protect the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and criticised the appointment of Mohamed Hameed as Commissioner of Police during that period.
He said state institutions could only be reformed if senior officials who violate constitutional rights were held accountable.
