The Criminal Court of the Maldives has decided to live stream the Fuhgiri trial after witnesses give their testimonies.
Former President Abdulla Yameen is charged with seeking a bribe of USD1.3 million to lease Fuhgiri to City Island Holdings Limited, which was facilitated by Ahmed Krik Riza. The state has accused Yameen of laundering USD1.1 million of the bribe through Sun Investment Private Limited and Sun Construction Engineering Private Limited.
At the first hearing held via video conferencing, Yameen’s defence requested the court to halt further hearings until the Supreme Court concludes an appeal case regarding state evidence submitted against Yameen. The state prosecutors did not object to the request, however, presiding Judge Ali Nadheem said there is no reason to halt the hearings as the appeal case will have no bearing on the Fuhgiri trial. He noted that the Fuhgiri case has been at the court for three years and asked why the defence failed to prepare their opening statement. He said that the opening statement will be heard in the next hearing.
At the hearing, Yameen requested the court to live stream the trial as he wants to prove to the public that the charges against him are false. In response, the presiding judge said that the trial will be live streamed after the court hears the witness testimonies to prevent undue influence. The next hearing has been scheduled for April 30.