Opposition leaders visit Yameen in prison; says in high spirits

Opposition leaders met former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom at Maafushi Prison on Wednesday for the first time since the former president's imprisonment in late December, with senior opposition leaders saying Yameen was in high spirits. 

Senior PPM-PNC leaders visited Maafushi Prison for the first time on Wednesday to meet Yameen since he was sentenced to 11 years in prison on December 25 after being found guilty of money laundering and accepting bribes.

After the meeting, PNC President Abdul Raheem Abdulla tweeted that Yameen was "standing firm".

"[Yameen] said he would not bow down in the face of oppression. That he will not bow down to slavery. He will prove his innocence," Abdul Raheem said.

PNC Vice President and Maduvvari MP Adam Shareef, who was also present at the meeting, told Atoll Times that Yameen had instructed him to continue the campaign for the upcoming presidential elections without any hindrance and to carry out the necessary efforts to secure his release.

"The President was very courageous, determined and instructed us to carry out political activities with determination," he said.

During the meeting, Yameen requested that all possible steps be taken to expedite his appeal case, said Adam Shareef.

Yameen has not yet filed an appeal against his conviction for laundering money by accepting bribes from MMPRC. In criminal cases, the high court grants only 60 days to file appeals.

They expressed concern over the delay in receiving the summary report and the conclusion of the trial by his counsel. 

The summary report was received by the lawyers on the day after the trial. 

A detailed report on the conclusion of the trial was received on Sunday.