Yameen convicted of bribery, money laundering

Criminal Court on Monday convicted former President Abdulla Yameen on bribery and money laundering charges, while his co-accused, for parliamentarian Yusuf Naeem was convicted of bribery charge. 

Hearings on former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom alleged for taking a bribe from former MP Yusuf Naeem of Felidhoo constituency for the lease of V. Aarah concluded on 30 November. 

Yameen has been charged with bribery and money laundering. Yusuf Naeem has been charged with bribery.

Both have denied the charges and face a minimum sentence of three years in prison. For the money laundering charge, Yameen faces up to five years in prison.

During the hearings, both the state and the defence tried to prove what had happened in the case by producing witnesses. 

The prosecution submitted evidence to prove that the 2G company owned by Naeem was given Aarah at the behest of Yameen and that the bribe money received was laundered. In defence, Yameen and Naeem submitted evidence that Yameen and Naeem had a dollar-exchange transaction.

Delivering its verdict Sunday morning, the court said the state had established the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. 

The sentencing hearing will be held Saturday afternoon. While the state had sought a 19-year prison sentence for Yameen together with a fine five times that of the sum laundered, the court rejected a motion by defence lawyers to delay the sentencing hearing by 10 days.

This is the third graft case against Yameen and his second conviction. The first conviction in 2019 was overturned by the Supreme Court in November 2021. 

The third graft case involving the lease of another island is ongoing.