The Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) has appealed the decision of the High Court of the Maldives to overturn the lower court’s order for former President Abdulla Yameen to pay USD3.4 million to the state.
In December 2022, the Criminal Court of the Maldives sentenced former President Yameen to 11 years in prison after finding him guilty of money laundering and accepting bribes in relation to the lease of Aarah, Vaavu Atoll, for resort development through the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC). The court also ordered Yameen to pay USD3.4 million to the state within six months in February.
After the appeal hearings, the High Court stated that the Criminal Court did not provide a sufficient reason to issue the fine which was not initially requested by the state. It also stated that the lower court had violated procedures by issuing the fine two months after giving its verdict in the Aarah case, upon request from the state via a letter. PGO said the Criminal Court's verdict had been appealed at the High Court.
The USD3.4 million Yameen has to pay to the state includes USD 1 million he was convicted of laundering, the combined USD2 million, and the profits made from investing the money.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Court verdict to jail Yaamen has been appealed at the High Court. However, the hearings in the High Court have not commenced yet.