Opposition to seek out delay behind Yameen's appeal

Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Aslam said on Friday that he will refer the verdict in the V. Aarah case, which is pending in the High Court, to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

Aslam, who is also the Member of Parliament for Hithadhoo North, said this while addressing a rally held by the MDP in Addu on Friday. He alleged that the High Court has been delaying the verdict for four months because of the influence of the government.

Aslam said he would submit the case to the JSC on Saturday to investigate the reason for the delay in Yameen's trial.

“As the Speaker of the Parliament, I am a member of the JSC and tomorrow I will file this case,” Aslam said.

He said that being a specific government, it should not deprive specific people of justice, and that especially those who have been presidents should be given the respect they deserve regardless of the government in power.

Aslam said that he realised how much the government is ‘meddling’ with Yameen's trial after the police stymied Yameen's People's National Front (PNF) founding rally. Then he said that the police would not interfere in any political activity unless sent by the government.

The appeal hearings in the Aarah case were concluded on November 21 last year. Four months have passed without a verdict. The court has not explained the reason for the delay.

Yameen is currently serving his sentence at home, which is already a privilege, considering the charges against him.

While Aslam defended Yameen, Yameen himself, and the current President Mohammed Muizzu have been saying that Yameen will not get justice during MDP’s rule. At the time, PPM/PNC's criticism of the government's handling of Yameen's trial was endless too.