Hearings in Yameen’s Aarah, Fuggiri cases scheduled after months-long pause

The Criminal Court has scheduled hearings later this month in two cases against former President Abdulla Yameen after proceedings in both cases were stalled for several months.

The cases concern the leases of V. Aarah and R. Fuggiri through the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). Yameen faces allegations of bribery and money laundering in both cases.

A Criminal Court official confirmed that a hearing in the Fuggiri case has been scheduled for September 23, while the Aarah case is scheduled for September 29.

In the Aarah case, Yameen is accused of accepting USD 1 million as a bribe in connection with the lease of the island through MMPRC and laundering the money.

The Criminal Court had previously convicted Yameen in the case, but the High Court overturned the conviction and ordered a retrial.

The Criminal Court subsequently suspended proceedings after the state appealed part of the High Court ruling to the Supreme Court. The appeal concerned the High Court’s decision that new evidence submitted by the prosecution should not be admitted during the retrial.

The Supreme Court ruled in July that the evidence could not be admitted as directed by the High Court, clearing the way for the Criminal Court proceedings to continue.

The Fuggiri case, meanwhile, had not been scheduled for another hearing after several proceedings were held towards the end of last year.

Yameen is accused in the Fuggiri case of accepting a bribe in connection with the lease of R. Fuggiri through MMPRC and laundering part of the alleged proceeds.

The case also involved Sun Investment Pvt Ltd and Sun Construction and Engineering Pvt Ltd, two companies linked to businessman and Meedhoo MP Ahmed Siyam Mohamed. The Criminal Court ruled that the charges against the two companies had not been proven.

The state also withdrew its case against Ahmed “Krik” Riza, another defendant charged in connection with the Fuggiri transaction.

Yameen’s case remains before the Criminal Court and is now scheduled to resume on September 23.