President declines opposition request to discuss Yameen trial
The reply said Yameen's sentence had "nothing to do" with the president
By
Mohamed Muzayyin Nazim
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Monday declined a request by senior leaders of the opposition PPM-PNC coalition to discuss the ongoing trials of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, saying that it is not appropriate for him to meet with any party over ongoing trials.
It has been over a week since senior PPM-PNC leaders have been visiting the President's Office on a daily basis to meet with President Solih, alleging that the appeal against Yameen's 11-year prison sentence in connection with the leasing of V. Aarah was not fast-tracked despite the Criminal Court trial on the lease of R. Fuggiri going on in full swing.
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The opposition said the President's Office has previously replied that they are not granted audience with the president because they did not make an official appointment; when the office said it had not received the opposition letter requesting appointment through the portal, the opposition members submitted a handwritten letter while being at the President's Office on Sunday
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The President's Office responded to the letter on Monday
In the reply, chief of staff Ali Zahir said that Yameen is currently serving a jail sentence handed to him by a court. The letter said the verdict had "nothing to do" with the president and that the president "would not have taken the initiative" to hurt anyone.
"While [Yameen] is serving a judicial verdict and the appeal process of a verdict is currently underway, the president is of the view that it is not appropriate for the president to get into such a matter and meet anyone on the issue," Ali Zahir said in response to the letter signed by PNC President Abdul Raheem Abdulla.
The letter adds:
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The accusations made in Abdul Raheem's letter are false
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If anyone is believed to be affected by the actions of the president, he would like them to submit such cases to the relevant institutions
In Abdul Raheem's letter, he said that Yameen is being "tortured under the leadership of President Solih". In addition, he expressed concerns for:
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Concern that Maldivian seas are being sold
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Concern that the president is "hiding" after the government orchestrated a parliamentary deadlock
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