Fine payment deadline not expired yet, Yameen tells court
"The MIRA is the one who usually notifies us that the debt expires on a certain date. That is the case in the previous Vodamulla case as well", Yameen explained
By
Ahmed Sadhoof Moosa
Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has told the Supreme Court that even though the Election Commission (EC) declares that the USD 5 million fine imposed on him in connection with the 11-year prison sentence handed to him in the MMPRC lease case is a proven debt against him, the deadline to pay the fine is yet to expire.
The Supreme Court hearings on the petition filed by Yameen against the Election Commission's rejection of his nomination papers for the upcoming presidential election began at 4 pm on Friday.
In response, one of the judges hearing the case, Husnu Al Suood, questioned Yameen on that point.
Replying to the seven-judge bench of the Supreme Court, for the questions asked byJustice Al Suood, Yameen said the Election Commission's allegation of proven debt is part of the entire verdict handed down against him in the Aarah case.
Yameen said:
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The entire judgment of the lower court has been appealed
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In execution, the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MMIRA) will serve on him or his lawyers a notice including the maturity date of the debt
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He and his lawyers have not yet received the notice of expiration of the debt
"The MIRA is the one who usually notifies us that the debt expires on a certain date. That is the case in the previous Vodamulla case as well. MIRA did not send the notification to our lawyers," he said.
Yameen's conviction in the Aarah case has been appealed on his behalf in the High Court, but the hearings have been stalled as two judges hearing his case are on leave.
