The Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has submitted new evidence to refute the testimony of a witness presented in the trial of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom over the sale of Aarah, Vaavu Atoll.
At the latest hearing, the prosecution submitted new evidence to prove that one of the defense witnesses has given false testimony. The prosecution submitted the minutes of the Economic and Youth Council (EYC) to refute the claim of a witness who was a member of the council that all the minutes of the council had been signed. The prosecution also submitted the employee attendance record of the defense witness.
The defense objected to the prosecution's presentation of the evidence and said the prosecution must submit evidence with the charge sheet and cannot submit evidence during the current phase of the hearing. The prosecution responded by saying the evidence was not submitted earlier because the information of the defense witness was not known when the case was sent to court. The prosecution said that evidence can be presented at this stage under the Criminal Procedure Act. After considering the arguments of both the parties, Judge Ahmed Shakeel said a hearing would be held on November 17.
The state has pressed charges of money laundering and accepting bribes against former President Yameen in relation to the lease of Aarah for resort development through Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). The island was leased to a private company after it was taken back and handed over to Felidhoo Island Council in 2015. The island was later handed over to a company called 2G Maldives, before leasing the island again to a foreign company. The embezzlement of funds acquired from the lease of Aarah was uncovered during the investigation of the corruption scandal of MMPRC.