The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has filed a case at the Civil Court to collect the USD5 million fine from former President Abdulla Yameen.
In December 2022, the Criminal Court sentenced former President 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 court also ordered him to pay a USD5 million fine within six months for money laundering.
Moreover, the Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) cited Yameen's outstanding debt linked to the unpaid court-ordered fine as one of the reasons the electoral body rejected his candidacy for the presidential election. During the Supreme Court appeal hearing, Yameen explained that he and his legal team were not informed by the authorities about the expiration of the payment deadline.
However, the Supreme Court verdict emphasised that the records indicated that the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) had sent a letter to Yameen concerning the outstanding payment. The court further established that the documents were signed and finger-printed by Yameen, requesting MIRA to give them to his lawyers.
Additionally, the Supreme Court upheld the decision to reject Yameen's candidacy for the presidential election. The court ruled that he does not meet the qualifications to contest in the election, as he is serving an 11-year prison sentence.