Maldives Police Service (MPS) has revealed it is researching the accusations that the defense witnesses of former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's trial committed perjury.
The Criminal Court of the Maldives has sentenced former President Abdulla Yameen to 11 years in prison after finding him guilty of charges of money laundering and accepting bribes in relation to the lease of Aarah, Vaavu Atoll, for resort development through Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC).
The Criminal Court’s verdict in the case accused some defense witnesses of Yameen fabricating false evidence when testifying. Deputy Mayor of Male' City Council Ahmed Nareesh and Abdulla Rasheed were summoned as defense witnesses in the case. They testified that USD1 million, worth MVR15 million, was hand counted at Yameen's residence by Nareesh and handed over to Yoosuf Naeem. However, the Criminal Court ruled that the witnesses who testified on behalf of Yameen were believed to have abused the criminal justice system and that witnesses had given fraudulent and definite false information to the court. The verdict noted the witnesses could not say an exact date the said money was handed over to Yoosuf Naeem or whether it was during the day or at night. However, it is surprising that the witnesses gave details of other events that happened that day. In addition to Nareesh, the verdict also highlighted the inconsistency in the testimony of Mohamed Rasheed, who testified in the case.
Former President Yameen was given an 11-year prison sentence and a USD5 million fine for accepting bribes and money laundering. The court has ordered him to pay the amount to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) within six months. Former Parliamentarian Yoosuf Naeem was given three years, two months, and 12 days in prison for offering bribes.